State Terror Unleashed on Peaceful Kuki Protesters at Shangkai: Kuki CSOs Working Committee

The Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul has strongly condemned what it described as “state-sponsored terror” following a violent crackdown on a peaceful protest at Shangkai in Manipur on Thursday.

The protest was organised in response to the alleged killing of three Kuki-Zo pastors and the reported abduction of 14 Kuki civilians. According to the Working Committee, demonstrators had gathered peacefully to demand justice and immediate government intervention.

However, tensions escalated when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Personnel allegedly used force to disperse the crowd. The Kuki CSO Working Committee claimed that multiple rounds of tear gas were fired into residential areas around 9:07 AM, causing panic among civilians, including women and elderly residents.

The Working Committee alleged that one woman sustained a gunshot injury to the head during the incident and remains in critical condition. Tear gas shells were also reportedly fired into a residence sheltering a 95-year-old woman, resulting in severe respiratory distress.

In its statement, the Kuki CSOs Working Committee accused the Manipur Government of failing to take action against those responsible for the alleged abduction of the 14 Kuki civilians and the killing of the three pastors. It further alleged that security forces have repeatedly used disproportionate force against members of the Kuki-Zo community without accountability.

The Kuki CSO Working Committee demanded:

• Immediate medical treatment for all injured civilians.
• A time-bound judicial inquiry into the incident at Shangkai.
• Identification and arrest of personnel allegedly responsible for excessive force.
• Immediate intervention by the Ministry of Home Affairs to secure the release of the abducted civilians.
• Stronger safeguards against the use of force on peaceful protesters.

The WCKCSOs Ukhrul also appealed to human rights groups, church leaders, civil society organisations, and democratic institutions to intervene and press both the Government of Manipur and the Government of India for justice.

Officials from the Manipur Government and security agencies had not issued an official response at the time of filing this report.