The Meetei Leepun (ML) has described the return of NSCN(IM) chief Thuingaleng Muivah to his ancestral village in Manipur after five decades as “a moment of deep emotional and historical significance for the people of Manipur.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ML chief M Pramot Singh said, “We warmly welcome the visit of Thuingaleng Muivah — not only a respected leader of the Naga people but also an inspirational and visionary figure admired across communities — to his village and his motherland, Manipur.”

The organisation also commended the authorities for allowing the 91-year-old insurgent leader to visit his native Somdal village in Ukhrul district, calling it “a wise and compassionate decision.”

Muivah had last attempted to visit his village in 2010, but was stopped by the then Congress-led government under Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, sparking tensions.

Recently hospitalised for routine health check-ups, Muivah continues to head the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) — the largest insurgent group in the Northeast.

In 2015, the NSCN(IM) signed the Framework Agreement with the Centre, which was hailed as a major breakthrough and saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Muivah, and other senior officials share the stage in New Delhi.