Kuki Body Calls Helicopter Visit Without Consent A “Divide And Rule” Tactic, Demands Separate State/UT
By Nengcha Haokip | Kukiland Express
Songpi, July 4, 2026: The Kuki Human Rights Council (KHRC) on Friday accused the Modi-led Central Government of helping Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand to enter Kuki areas, calling the visit a deliberate provocation carried out without the consent of the Kuki people.
In a statement issued from its Lamka office, KHRC said the CM was forced to enter Churachandpur by helicopter after Kuki women blocked his convoy at Kaprang. The rights body termed the use of Central security and air support to facilitate the visit as “a textbook divide and rule tactic intended to create division within the Kuki community.”
Women Block Convoy, CM Uses Helicopter
According to KHRC, Kuki women stood firm at Kaprang and denied road access to the Chief Minister. Denied entry by road, Khemchand was compelled to land by helicopter under heavy security cover provided by the Centre.
“The incident proves that the BJP Government continues to show bias in favor of the majority Meitei community,” KHRC stated. “It also reaffirms what the Kuki people have said for the last three years: Kuki and Meitei communities cannot coexist under the present Manipur state structure. The trust is broken beyond repair.”
KHRC praised the women of Kaprang, saying they “have proven what belongs to us – our ground, our land, our identity, and our highways. The hills spoke with one voice and rejected an imposed visit.”
Manipur Govt Has Lost Legitimacy In Kuki Areas
The Council said the fact that the CM could not enter by road is clear evidence that the Manipur state government has lost all legitimacy and access in Kuki areas.
KHRC urged the Government of India to end its alleged bias and stated that “peace cannot be built through symbolic helicopter tours, security convoys, or force.”
The Council reiterated its political demand for a Separate State or Union Territory for the Kuki people “until we achieve justice and security.” It added that any genuine engagement must begin with “respect, consultation, and recognition of Kuki political aspirations.”
Warning Against Imposition
KHRC warned that any further attempt to force entry into Kuki areas, with or without Central support and without consent, “will only deepen mistrust and instability.”
“The message from the hills is final: Dialogue, Yes. Imposition, No. The Kuki people will continue to protect their land, identity, and dignity at all costs,” the release concluded.
