The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has urged the Government of India to seriously review and abrogate the ceasefire agreement with NSCN-IM and its proxies in light of their alleged involvement, directly or indirectly, in violence, intimidation, attacks, and activities that threaten the lives and security of the Kuki-Zo people.
As part of the statewide rally held on Friday, KIM submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur district.
In the memorandum, KIM stated that the ceasefire cannot be allowed to become a shield for armed groups to operate with impunity and that any group violating ground rules, engaging in armed aggression, threatening civilians, or interfering in the peaceful lives of other communities must face strict action.
KIM also urged the government to identify and act against all proxies, affiliated groups, and armed elements operating under the protection or influence of such organisations.
The organisation further appealed to the Prime Minister to expedite a political settlement for the Kuki-Zo people to ensure their safety, survival, dignity, and constitutional rights. KIM stated that the repeated violence, displacement, insecurity, and discrimination faced by the Kuki-Zo people clearly demonstrate that temporary security measures alone are insufficient.
“A lasting political solution is necessary to protect the Kuki-Zo people from future violence, ensure self-governance, restore confidence, and provide a secure future for generations to come. The Government must treat this demand with urgency and seriousness,” KIM stated.
Demanding justice in the alleged fake encounter case involving Central Security Forces, KIM recalled that on June 16, 2026, personnel of the Central Security Forces reportedly carried out an operation at Songkong village in Henglep Subdivision, during which Lenminsang of Kolchung village was killed.
KIM claimed that Lenminsang had been staying with relatives in the area to assist in jhum cultivation. Eyewitness accounts stated that security forces indiscriminately shelled the village with two rounds of mortar fire, causing fear and panic among unarmed civilians and forcing them to flee for safety.
It is further alleged that Lenminsang was pursued and shot dead, amounting to an extrajudicial killing, KIM stated while demanding an immediate and impartial judicial inquiry into the incident.
The Kuki body demanded that an FIR be registered against the personnel involved and that all those responsible be held accountable under the law. KIM stated that no security operation can justify the killing of an innocent civilian and that such actions must not be allowed to go unpunished.
KIM also requested the government to ensure justice for the 14 innocent Kuki-Zo civilians who have lost their lives in the continuing violence. It stated that their deaths cannot be treated as mere statistics or unfortunate incidents but as grave violations of the right to life guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
Demanding an immediate, impartial, and time-bound investigation into each of these killings, KIM further stated that the persons, armed groups, organisations, and others directly or indirectly involved must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The families of the victims must also be provided with adequate compensation, protection, and full support by the government, KIM stated.
Kuki Inpi Manipur also demanded a time-bound and impartial investigation into the burning, destruction, and ravaging of 11 Kuki villages.
Stating that the destruction of homes, churches, properties, granaries, livestock, farms, and livelihood assets has caused immense suffering and displacement among the Kuki-Zo people, KIM urged the government to assess the full extent of the damage and provide adequate compensation and rehabilitation to all affected families.
KIM added that reconstruction assistance must be provided for destroyed houses, churches, community properties, and livelihood resources and that the perpetrators responsible for these acts of arson and destruction must be brought to justice without delay.
The Kuki body also urged the government to immediately deploy adequate neutral Central Security Forces in all vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages and surrounding areas, adding that the continuing attacks, threats, intimidation, arson, and movement of armed elements have created a deep sense of insecurity among the Kuki-Zo people.
“Security deployment must not be selective, biased, or delayed. It must be preventive in nature and aimed at protecting innocent civilians, particularly women, children, students, the elderly, displaced persons, and farmers. Vulnerable villages must not be left exposed to further attacks,” KIM stated.
In the memorandum, KIM also urged the government to submit a clear and time-bound report on all investigations initiated by government agencies into the killing of Kuki civilians, the burning of villages, destruction of properties, and attacks on Kuki-Zo areas.
The Kuki body stated that people have the right to know what action has been taken, who has been identified, who has been arrested, and what steps are being taken to prevent further violence. Delay, silence, and lack of transparency only deepen mistrust and encourage further aggression, the memorandum added.
Stating that delays in addressing these grave issues would only worsen the suffering of the people and deepen the sense of alienation among the Kuki-Zo community, KIM urged the Government to act firmly, fairly, and immediately in the interest of justice, peace, and constitutional responsibility.
KIM stated that, so far, 11 Kuki villages have been ravaged and burned, while 14 Kuki-Zo civilians have lost their lives in repeated attacks. The continued delay in addressing these incidents has deepened the sense of victimisation, insecurity, and abandonment among the Kuki-Zo people.
Despite being victims of repeated aggression, the Kuki-Zo people are being further subjected to intimidation, insecurity, and neglect.
KIM further stated that any attempt by the Government to consider demands placed by organisations while ignoring the persistent attacks and aggression against the Kuki-Zo people would amount to alienating the Kuki-Zo community.
If the demands of the United Naga Council (UNC) are fulfilled without justice for the victims, the government will be seen as favouring the UNC's position while disregarding the suffering of the Kuki-Zo people, KIM stated.
“We cannot be part of any political arrangement in Manipur that ignores our pain, our dead, and our destroyed villages. The deterioration of relations between the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities stems from a series of escalating incidents,” KIM added.
The memorandum stated that on February 8, Litan Sareikhong, a Kuki village, was burnt following a drunken altercation, prompting the retaliatory burning of Litan, a Tangkhul Naga village. Despite calls for restraint by KIM, Kuki villages continued to face alleged provocations and attacks.
On March 13, two Kuki men were abducted from Thawai Kuki village by NSCN-IM cadres. In response, Kuki villagers detained 21 Tangkhul individuals but later released them. Despite this, the abducted men were killed, deepening tensions.
KIM added that the situation worsened on May 13 when NSCN-IM and ZUF (K) allegedly ambushed religious leaders, killing three pastors and injuring five others. Since then, violence has escalated further, with both sides engaging in retaliatory actions and hostage-taking, which was subsequently resolved through government intervention.
KIM urged the Government of India to act immediately, impartially, and firmly to restore justice, security, and confidence among the Kuki-Zo people.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
