Ukhrul: The Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations based in Ukhrul has accused the Manipur government and the Centre of failing to ensure accountability for civilian killings in the state and practicing what it called selective justice. In a press release, the WCKCSOs-Ukhrul questioned the progress of investigations into two separate killings and criticized the response of authorities and a section of local media to incidents of violence in the hill districts.
At the centre of the committee’s statement is the killing of Thenkhogin Baite and Thangboimang Lunkim at Thowai Kuki. The case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency several months ago, but the committee said there has been no public update on arrests or charges. It asked what progress the agency has made and who has been held accountable so far. The group said the continued silence has created an impression among Kuki villagers that cases involving Kuki victims do not receive the same priority as other cases.
The committee also cited a recent incident involving 76-year-old Hemjang Haokip of Khunkho Kuki village. According to the statement, Haokip was abducted from his farm hut and his body was found the next day at S. Golai near Leimakhong with his hands and legs tied. The Khunkho Kuki Village Authority has attributed the killing to cadres of the NSCN (IM), the committee said. The WCKCSOs-Ukhrul said this killing should not be seen in isolation and alleged that it reflects a broader pattern of violence, intimidation and displacement faced by Kuki villagers in parts of Ukhrul and Kangpokpi districts.
In its statement, the WCKCSOs-Ukhrul said the state cannot claim to be neutral while enforcing the law selectively. It alleged that Kuki civil society leaders have faced arrests, FIRs and coercive measures, while allegations of attacks on Kuki civilians by armed groups have not attracted similar attention from law enforcement. The committee said equal protection under the law must mean the same standard of investigation and action irrespective of community, and added that national security and justice cannot be applied on a selective basis.
The organisation also questioned the lack of official response to remarks attributed to Yarchuiso Kashung, president of Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long. Kashung was reported to have said that his organisation may seek help from China if the state and Centre are unwilling to protect indigenous people. The WCKCSOs-Ukhrul asked why both the Manipur government and the Central government have remained silent on the statement, and whether a similar statement made by a Kuki leader would have drawn a different response. It said such statements, if left unaddressed, raise serious questions on national security policy.
Another part of the statement was directed at a section of media in Manipur. The committee alleged that reporting has shown double standards in describing victims and perpetrators. It claimed that when Kuki villagers are killed, some reports describe the assailants as unknown miscreants, whereas when Meitei or Naga villagers are killed, the same outlets readily attribute responsibility to Kuki militants without evidence. It urged media organisations to base accusations on verifiable facts and not to become a platform for communal vilification, stating that responsible journalism is essential in a conflict situation.
The WCKCSOs-Ukhrul said Kuki villagers have repeatedly appealed for protection and justice while continuing to face threats. The statement said every unresolved killing and every allegation of selective arrests deepens distrust between communities and the administration and reinforces a feeling of unequal citizenship. It warned that if the state continues to fail to protect lives, identify perpetrators and deliver justice, it cannot expect Kuki people to continue to believe that they enjoy equal protection under the Constitution. It added that the patience of the community is wearing thin.
The committee concluded its statement by asserting that Kuki lives are not expendable and that elders, women and children should not be treated as targets or collateral in the ongoing conflict. It said the state and the Centre must act to break what it described as a cycle of impunity and silence. It demanded a time-bound and transparent update from the NIA on the Thowai Kuki double murder case, a thorough investigation into the killing of Hemjang Haokip, and a uniform standard of law enforcement across all communities.
The situation in Manipur remains fragile since violence broke out in May 2023. Ukhrul district, which is predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community, also has a number of Kuki villages along its southern fringe bordering Kangpokpi. Incidents of arson, displacement and killings have been reported from these fringe villages. While peace talks and buffer zones maintained by central forces have prevented large-scale clashes in recent months, targeted killings and abductions continue to be reported. The state government and the NIA have not yet issued an official response to the latest statement from WCKCSOs-Ukhrul.
