KZC, Kuki Rights Body Slam Midnight CoBRA Raid in Manipur's Kangpokpi; Call It 'Gross Abuse of Power,' Demand Probe into Alleged 'High-Handed' Operation

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) and the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), Sadar Hills Chapter, have launched a blistering attack on the CRPF's elite CoBRA unit, alleging that the residence of the KZC's Joint Secretary was raided in the dead of night without a search warrant.

Calling the operation "high-handed," "illegal," a "gross abuse of power," and a violation of due process, the two organisations have demanded an impartial probe and accountability from the authorities.

Vehemently condemning what it described as a midnight raid by CRPF CoBRA personnel on the residence of its Joint Secretary, Douminlal Haokip, at Bongphajol village in Kangpokpi district, the KZC said the operation took place at around 2:30 a.m. on July 12, while Haokip was away in Churachandpur attending a joint meeting of the Kuki-Zo Council and the Kuki Inpi Manipur.

The Council alleged that security personnel entered and searched the residence without producing a search warrant, carrying out the operation while the family was asleep.
It claimed the raid left women and children traumatised and described the action as "deeply disturbing" and unbecoming of a professional security force.

Stating that Haokip is a respected civil society leader, the KZC asserted that if the authorities had genuine grounds to conduct a search, they should have followed due legal procedure and obtained the necessary authorisation instead of resorting to what it termed a late-night operation.

The Council accused the authorities of showing disregard for the rule of law and the dignity of a public figure.

Demanding transparency, the KZC called on the authorities to explain the legal basis of the raid and institute an impartial inquiry into the conduct of the personnel involved.

Meanwhile, describing the action as a "gross abuse of authority" and a direct assault on the dignity, safety, and fundamental rights of women and children, the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), Sadar Hills Chapter, vehemently condemned the CRPF's CoBRA unit over the alleged midnight search operation at the residence of Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) Joint Secretary Douminlal Haokip.

The Kuki women's rights body alleged that armed CRPF CoBRA personnel conducted the raid without producing a search warrant while family members, including women and children, were asleep.

The organisation said that heavily armed late-night operations inside civilian homes, particularly in the absence of the head of the family, leave women and children traumatised and create an atmosphere of fear among innocent civilians.

"No security operation, irrespective of its objective, should be carried out in a manner that intimidates innocent families or disregards their fundamental rights," KWOHR said.

Questioning the legality of the operation, KWOHR maintained that if the authorities had lawful grounds to conduct a search, they were duty-bound to obtain the necessary judicial authorisation and strictly follow established legal procedures.

KWOHR asserted that if the operation was conducted without adherence to due legal procedure, it constituted a serious violation of constitutional safeguards and the rule of law.

It also warned that resorting to midnight raids without visibly complying with due process undermines public confidence in security institutions and raises serious concerns over accountability and the protection of civil liberties.

Demanding immediate accountability, KWOHR urged the Government of India, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the CRPF to publicly explain the legal basis of the operation and order an independent, impartial, and time-bound inquiry into the conduct of the personnel involved.

The organisation further demanded that any personnel found to have violated established legal procedures be proceeded against in accordance with the law.

Expressing solidarity with the family of Douminlal Haokip, the organisation reiterated that the protection of human rights, constitutional guarantees, and the dignity of every citizen must remain paramount, irrespective of the prevailing security situation.

Calling for greater restraint in conflict-affected areas, the two prominent Kuki-Zo organisations appealed to all security agencies to uphold professionalism, respect human rights, and ensure that counter-insurgency operations do not become a pretext for intimidation or psychological harassment of innocent civilians, particularly women and children