The Working Committe of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) on Tuesday raises a serious concern over the Manipur Government’s decision to handover the case to NIA and assert that justice cannot be selective, and governance cannot be guided by convenience or silence. The people deserve transparency, accountability and equal application of the law across all cases, irrespective of community or context.
Working Committe TNL stated that “the recent decision by the Government of Manipur to seek transfer of the case of the death of two Kukis in a crossfire on the 11th of March 2026 to the National Investigation Agency is deeply questionable and reflects a troubling pattern of selective, inconsistent, and premature action.
At the core of this matter lies a fundamental lapse: the identity and origin of one of the deceased individuals, namely Thengin Baite, has not been conclusively established.
The official statement issued by the Thawai Village Authority on the 14th of March 2026 clearly indicates that the person reported as Thengin Baite does not appear in the electoral rolls or Hill House Assessment records of Thawai Kuki village. This directly contradicts widely circulated claims regarding his background and identity.
Despite this glaring uncertainty, the State Government has chosen to handover the case to the NIA. This raises a serious and unavoidable question. On what verified factual basis has such a decision been taken? Referring a case to a premier counter-terrorism agency without establishing basic facts is not only procedurally unsound but suggests a deliberate attempt to construct a narrative before the truth is determined.
Equally alarming is the State’s selective approach in handling grave incidents. The case of Vungzagin Valte, a sitting MLA from Thanlon constituency, Pherzawl remains a glaring example. He was brutally attacked in Imphal on 4th of May 2023 during the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and the Kukis and later succumbed to his injuries on February 20 2026. This was a direct assault on a democratically elected representative with far-reaching implications for governance and rule of law. Yet, this case was not and has not been referred to the NIA despite Vungzagin himself writing a letter to the Prime Minister for probe on 13th of September 2025, five months before his death.
Further compounding public concern is the abduction of 21 civilians by Kuki militants in broad daylight along the Ukhrul-Imphal (NH-202) road on the 11th of March 2026 right in front of Indian security forces. This deeply disturbing incident appears to have been quietly sidelined, with no visible accountability, no transparent investigation, and no indication of due diligence in examining the role, response, or possible lapses of the armed forces present at the time. The absence of interrogation, clarification, or action in such a serious matter raises critical questions about institutional responsibility.
At the same time, Kuki militant groups have been blocking the vital National Highway 202, which serves as a lifeline for the Tangkhul Naga community since the 12th of March 2026. Such actions not only disrupt essential movement and supplies but also constitute serious violations of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements between the Kuki Militants and the Government of India. Despite the gravity of these violations, the State Government’s continued silence and inaction are both conspicuous and concerning.
When viewed collectively, these instances reveal a pattern of selective urgency and selective silence. A case with disputed facts is swiftly escalated to the NIA, while the killing of a sitting MLA remains unaddressed at that level. The abduction of civilians sees no visible accountability, and blockades by Kuki Militants continue without meaningful intervention or acknowledgment.
TNL categorically assert that justice cannot be selective, and governance cannot be guided by convenience or silence. The people deserve transparency, accountability, and equal application of the law across all cases, irrespective of community or context.
TNL has demand immediate clarification on the factual basis for referring the present case to the NIA, along with a transparent and time-bound inquiry into the abduction of 21 civilians, ensuring accountability of all security personnel present at the time of the incident. We also demand immediate action to remove the unlawful blockades on National Highway 202.
In this regard, it must be noted that the Kuki militants have failed to uphold the SoO agreement by unleashing fear and terror in the region, in the presence of the Indian Security Forces. Therefore, their SoO agreement must be scrapped without further delay.
“Failure to act decisively and fairly will only deepen mistrust and further destabilize an already fragile situation” stated Media Cell Working Committee, TNL
