KSO Delhi & NCR Holds Protest at Jantar Mantar, Demands Action Against Alleged NSCN-IM Violence

The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Delhi & NCR on Saturday organised a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to strongly condemn the continuing atrocities, targeted violence, abductions, killings, intimidation, and terror activities committed against the Kuki-Zo community, allegedly by Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM terrorists and their proxies in Manipur and across the Northeast.

The protest was held in the wake of the brutal killing of three Kuki-Zo church pastors on May 13, the injuring of several others, the continued abduction of 14 Kuki-Zo men by alleged Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM terrorists, and the continued silence and lack of decisive action from the government despite repeated incidents of violence, which the organisation described as deeply disturbing and unacceptable in a democratic nation governed by the rule of law.

While speaking at the protest, KSO Delhi & NCR president Tingbem said the Kuki-Zo people had not gathered merely for a protest, but to raise their voices against terror, injustice, targeted killings, ethnic persecution, and the continued silence of those entrusted with protecting innocent lives.

“The Kuki-Zo pastors who were brutally killed were not armed combatants but servants of God — peace-loving civilians dedicated to faith, humanity, and service. Yet they were mercilessly targeted and murdered,” she added.

Tingbem questioned how long innocent Kuki-Zo lives would continue to be sacrificed before the Government of India acted decisively, adding that the violence did not begin yesterday.

KSO Delhi & NCR president Tingbem said, “The Kuki-Zo people have endured decades of killings, displacement, intimidation, extortion, village burnings, and systematic persecution.”

“From the 1990s till today, our villages have been attacked, our people uprooted, and our lands occupied. Even today, villages such as Haijang, Gampal, K. Songlung, Litan, Mullam, and Lancha continue to face destruction and terror from NSCN-IM terrorists and their proxies,” Tingbem added.

Despite such incidents, the government continues a ceasefire agreement with secessionist terrorist groups, she said, while questioning what kind of ceasefire allows civilians to be killed and what kind of peace process permits abductions, extortion, economic blockades, illegal taxation, and terror activities.

The KSO president alleged that NSCN-IM terrorists had become parasites to the entire Northeast region and, under the cover of ceasefire arrangements, continued to operate illegal networks, intimidate civilians, obstruct security forces, and sustain violent activities.

Tingbem also expressed deep concern about the alleged illegal cross-border movement taking place through Ukhrul and Kamjong districts. She said areas such as Namlee, Wanglee, and Choro had reportedly become centres for illegal timber trade, narcotics networks, and unlawful cross-border activities sustaining terrorism and instability in the region.

“How can peace return when terror infrastructure continues to operate openly?” Tingbem questioned.

The Kuki-Zo people are also deeply disturbed by the actions of certain Tangkhul women who are allegedly obstructing the movement and operations of Indian armed forces in conflict-affected areas.

She claimed there had been repeated instances where armed personnel were stopped, surrounded, frisked, and humiliated while carrying out official security duties.

“Let us be very clear — frisking armed forces personnel by civilians is not activism. It is a serious national security threat. Even more shocking is the fact that water supply pipelines to armed forces camps have reportedly been deliberately cut off — not by armed insurgents, but by Tangkhul women shielding and aiding NSCN-IM terrorists,” Tingbem stated.

The KSO president asked the Government of India how counter-insurgency operations could succeed when those aiding terrorists were allegedly allowed to obstruct the very forces deployed to protect the nation.

Tingbem said no democracy could tolerate civilians openly assisting terrorist networks while simultaneously obstructing security operations.

She also condemned proxy organisations such as ZUF Kamson, alleging that they were being used as divisive tools to create unrest among Zeliangrong communities. “Divide-and-rule tactics must end,” she said.

Likewise, organisations such as SDSA, allegedly involved in abducting hostages, could not hide behind the label of “student organisations.” Any group involved in kidnapping, intimidation, or communal incitement must be banned immediately, the KSO president said.

“The Kuki-Zo people have always stood with India. Our people have defended this nation, protected its borders, and remained loyal to the Indian Union through generations. Yet today, our cries for justice are being ignored while terrorists continue to operate freely,” she said.

The KSO president also expressed gratitude to the Delhi Police and concerned authorities for facilitating the peaceful democratic gathering, and thanked the media fraternity for amplifying the voices of the oppressed and bringing attention to the realities faced by the Kuki-Zo people.

In a statement, KSO Delhi & NCR strongly condemned the continued burning of Kuki-Zo villages by alleged Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM terrorists and their proxies. Recent incidents involving Haijang, Gampal, K. Songlung, Litan, Mullam, and Lanchah villages, it said, reflected the worsening security situation and targeted persecution faced by innocent Kuki-Zo civilians.

The organisation further raised serious concern regarding illegal cross-border movement and the operation of illegal timber and drug trade centres in areas such as Namlee, Wanglee, and Choro in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts. These areas have allegedly become hubs for unlawful activities sustaining terrorist and secessionist networks.

KSO Delhi & NCR also condemned the alleged use of proxy groups such as ZUF Kamson by Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM terrorists to create division and unrest among Zeliangrong communities. Similarly, organisations such as SDSA, allegedly involved in abducting hostages, were described as “vehemently condemnable” and should be banned immediately.

KSO also mentioned that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had reportedly confirmed the involvement of NSCN-IM cadres in the looting of Punjab National Bank (PNB), Ukhrul, involving approximately ₹20 crore, exposing what it described as a dangerous nexus between terrorism and organised criminal activities.

KSO Delhi & NCR demanded the immediate abrogation of the ceasefire agreement with the secessionist Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM terrorists and the immediate release and safe recovery of the 14 abducted Kuki-Zo men.

The organisation also demanded the launching of massive combing operations in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts to dismantle terrorist camps and stop illegal cross-border movement, an immediate investigation and crackdown on illegal timber and drug trade centres operating in Namlee, Wanglee, and Choro, and an NIA investigation into the killing of the three Kuki-Zo church pastors, along with the prosecution of all perpetrators and conspirators involved in the attack.

KSO also urged stringent legal action against Tangkhul women and other individuals or groups allegedly obstructing the movement and operations of armed forces and shielding Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM terrorists. It further called for a ban on organisations involved in abductions and communal incitement, including the Senapati District Students Association and proxy groups allegedly aiding terrorist activities.

Further, KSO demanded the immediate implementation of Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people under the Constitution of India to ensure permanent peace, security, political protection, and safeguards against repeated ethnic violence and targeted persecution.

The organisation appealed to the Government of India, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the international community to ensure justice, accountability, and protection of innocent civilian lives before the situation deteriorates further.

“If the legitimate demands of the Kuki-Zo people continue to be ignored, the consequences of such inaction will inevitably be reflected in the 2027 Assembly Elections in Manipur,” KSO added.