Songpi: The United Kuki Youth Council, UKYC, has strongly condemned the National Investigation Agency for what it called selective and biased investigation targeting only Kuki individuals. In a press statement issued on October 2, 2026, from its administrative office at Songpi, Lamka, the Council reacted to the NIA press release dated September 29, 2026. The statement bearing Ref No. UKYC/PR/2026/18 said the NIA has arrested Kuki youths while allegedly ignoring other armed groups operating in Manipur. The Council termed this as selective justice against the Kuki people and said it undermines the credibility of the central agency.
According to the press release, two Kuki youths identified as Jangminlun Singson alias Franky, 44, and Thangjoel Haokip alias Thangboi, 21, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the June 10, 2024 Chief Minister convoy ambush case. The UKYC questioned the approach of the agency, alleging that real Narco-Terrorist groups like NSCN-IM and Meitei extremist groups like RPF and PLA are roaming freely in both valley and hill areas. The Council alleged that these groups continue to attack civilians and security forces but are not being investigated with the same intensity as Kuki youths.
The Council further clarified its stand on the June 2024 incident, stating that the attack on the convoy of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was not a terrorist act but a democratic protest. The UKYC said the Kuki people were protesting against what they described as state-sponsored violence against their community during the ethnic conflict. The statement described the incident as a democratic expression of pain, anger and frustration of a community that had faced displacement, loss of homes and lives. Labelling such a protest as a terrorist act is politically motivated and unjust, the Council said.
In a sharp attack on the former Chief Minister, the UKYC called N. Biren Singh the mastermind of the Manipur violence. The Council referred to a leaked audio tape allegedly containing the voice of the former Chief Minister, claiming that the tape clearly exposes his direct role as the supreme leader who orchestrated and engineered violence against the Kuki people. The Council claimed that in the audio, the former Chief Minister himself confessed to his role. The Council said this audio tape has been in public domain for months but no investigation has been initiated against him.
Raising the issue of atrocities against women, the UKYC asked why there is no justice for Kuki women who suffered during the conflict. The statement mentioned that Kuki women were tortured, gang-raped, paraded naked and brutally killed during the violence that erupted in May 2023. The Council questioned where the culprits of these crimes are and why the NIA is acting blind towards them. It asked why there have been no arrests in those cases while Kuki youths are being arrested for a protest. The Council said justice must be equal and not selective.
The United Kuki Youth Council has made a direct demand to the Supreme Court of India to intervene in the matter. The Council requested the Hon’ble Supreme Court to immediately accept the alleged audio tape of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh as primary evidence and take suo-moto cognizance of the case. It demanded a fair and independent investigation into the entire Manipur conflict under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, free from any interference of the state government. The Council said only a court-monitored probe can bring out the truth.
The Council also demanded that if the former Chief Minister is found guilty after a proper and impartial investigation as per law, capital punishment should be awarded to the mastermind of what it called the Manipur genocide. The UKYC said the Kuki community has been waiting for justice for more than two years and selective arrests will only deepen the trust deficit between the community and central agencies. It said faith in the Indian justice system can only be restored through unbiased action against all perpetrators irrespective of community.
The press statement was signed by the Information and Publicity Wing of the United Kuki Youth Council. The organization said it will continue to raise its voice against injustice through democratic and constitutional means and will submit representations to the National Human Rights Commission and other relevant authorities. It also appealed to all Kuki youth organizations and civil society groups to remain united, peaceful and disciplined while pursuing the demand for justice and constitutional rights.
