Allegations of Discrimination Against the Kuki-Zo Community in Manipur

Imphal, August 11: The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has strongly condemned the alleged violence, harassment, discrimination, and denial of justice faced by the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur. The council claims that recent events indicate that both the central and state governments are prioritizing the issues of the Naga community while ignoring the grievances and suffering of the Kuki-Zo people.

The KZC reported that 21 villagers from the Leilong Waifei area have been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to appear at the Lemakhong Army Camp. In a separate incident, alleged NSCN-IM militants attacked Kalengjang village in Kangpokpi district, setting several homes ablaze.

The council also asserted that a civil society leader from the Lemakhong Area Protection Committee (LAPC), who has no connection to any criminal case, remains imprisoned in Churachandpur Jail.

According to the KZC, the United Naga Council (UNC) has been allowed to continue its blockade for over two months. The council claims this blockade has severely disrupted the supply of essential goods in Kuki-Zo majority areas, including Kangpokpi.

The KZC stated that depriving people of essential goods for an extended period is inhumane, represents a serious violation of fundamental rights, and is leading to a humanitarian crisis. They also criticized the UNC’s proposals to the state government for lifting the blockade as impractical and irrelevant.

The Kuki-Zo Council has raised several questions to the government. They noted that while six Naga individuals are receiving special attention, the cases of 15 Kuki-Zo people, including three pastors allegedly killed by Naga militants, have not been given equal attention or justice.

The council further questioned why the UNC is still permitted to maintain the blockade and why those responsible for it have not yet been arrested.

The KZC demands equal protection under the law for all communities, the immediate release of innocent detainees, a fair investigation into the murders of the 15 Kuki-Zo individuals, and action against those responsible for the attacks on Kuki-Zo villages.

The council has also called for the immediate end of the blockade. The KZC emphasized that the scale of justice should be equal for everyone and that the lives of the Kuki-Zo community members hold equal importance.