Ill-Advised and Reckless Decision of Bishnupur DC Behind Hoikholhing’s Killing: KSO Churachandpur

The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Churachandpur, has blamed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bishnupur district for the killing of Hoikholhing, wife of the Langchingmanbi village chief, who was shot dead on June 19.

In a statement issued late night of June 19, the KSO Churachandpur questioned what it described as the “ill-advised and reckless” decision made by the DC of Bishnupur to permit wetland cultivation up to 300 metres from the upper canal—an area that dangerously encroaches into regions adjacent to vulnerable Kuki settlements.

“This decision, taken in the name of administrative convenience, blatantly disregards the volatile ground realities, further endangering the lives and security of the Kuki people,” the KSO stated.

The KSO further added, “We find it highly objectionable and unacceptable that a Meitei DC is allowed to exercise administrative control in such a sensitive buffer zone, especially when district borders are under strain due to ongoing ethnic tensions.”

This stands in stark contrast to other conflict-affected districts such as Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, and Churachandpur, where neutral officers have been appointed to maintain peace and impartiality. “The continuation of a partisan officer in Bishnupur is not just a lapse in judgment—it is a direct provocation and a failure of the state machinery,” the KSO said.

The Wakan incident, culminating in the tragic killing of a respected village leader’s spouse, serves as a damning indictment of the administration’s failures. The DC of Bishnupur must be held accountable for every consequence of his or her actions—or inaction—that has led to this deteriorating law and order situation, the KSO added.

In light of these grave developments, the KSO Churachandpur said it fully endorsed the indefinite shutdown called by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF). However, essential services—including medical emergencies, telecommunications, media, water supply, and planned programmes—shall be exempted from the purview of the shutdown.