Apex Kuki body says duo had resigned from LAPC on July 8 before spontaneous Leimakhong protest; calls detention arbitrary, seeks unconditional release
By Nengcha Haokip | Kukiland Express
Songpi July 12, 2026: The Kuki Inpi Manipur [KIM], the apex body of the Kuki Tribes, has issued an urgent appeal seeking the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts and safety of two community leaders allegedly taken into custody in connection with the public protest at Leimakhong.
In a press statement issued by its Media Cell from the KIM Secretariat on July 11, the organisation identified the two as K. Lhouvum, IDES [Retd.], Chief of Hengjang, aged 63, and Pagin Hangshing, son of Lunpao and Chief of Khunkho Kuki Village.
According to the statement, K. Lhouvum is a respected retired public servant who dedicated 33 years of service to the nation through the Indian Defence Estates Service. His detention in connection with the protest at Leimakhong, despite having no role in organising, directing or leading the protest, is deeply alarming and wholly unjustified, the KIM said. The continued failure of the authorities to disclose his whereabouts, condition and legal grounds for detention has caused grave concern among his family, community and well-wishers.
Similarly, Pagin Hangshing was also taken into custody despite having no involvement in organising or leading the protest, the statement said, terming his detention as equally arbitrary and unacceptable.
The KIM clarified that K. Lhouvum had formally resigned as Chairman of the Leimakhong Area Protection Committee [LAPC] on July 8, and Pagin Hangshing had also resigned from the LAPC. Following their resignations, an official press release was issued and all positions and leadership roles within the LAPC were formally dissolved at an official meeting. Any attempt to associate either of them with the activities of the dissolved committee is therefore false, baseless and deliberately misleading, it stated.
The apex body further asserted that the LAPC had absolutely no role in the protest. The protest was a spontaneous and uncontrollable expression of public anger arising from the prolonged failure of the State Government to end the unlawful economic blockade imposed by the Kacha Nagas of Manipur against the Kuki community for more than 50 days. It was neither planned, organised, directed, nor controlled by the LAPC, the statement said, adding that holding former office-bearers of a dissolved committee responsible for a spontaneous public uprising is a blatant abuse of authority and an attempt to intimidate innocent community leaders.
Stating that the detention of a 63-year-old retired government officer and two village chiefs without publicly disclosing the basis of their arrest raises serious questions about arbitrary detention, misuse of state power and complete disregard for due process and rule of law, the KIM said the authorities cannot remain silent while individuals are taken into custody and their families are denied basic information regarding their location, safety and legal status.
The KIM demanded the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts and condition of K. Lhouvum and Pagin Hangshing, immediate access to their families and legal representatives, and their unconditional release unless the authorities can produce clear and lawful grounds for their detention. It warned that the State Government and the security agencies concerned will be held fully responsible for their safety, dignity and well-being while in custody.
The continued targeting of innocent Kuki leaders, while those responsible for enforcing and supporting the unlawful economic blockade remain untouched, exposes a dangerous pattern of selective action and institutional injustice, the statement added. Such intimidation must cease immediately, it said, noting that justice, transparency and accountability are not acts of favour but constitutional obligations that the authorities are duty-bound to uphold.
