The Kuki CSO Working Committee-Ukhrul has strongly condemned the tragic incident at TM Kasom (Roudei) on 30/05/2026, which resulted in the death of a truck driver and injury to one police personnel during cross firing. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured police personnel. No innocent life should be lost amidst the prevailing unrest and insecurity.
The statement issued by the Kuki CSO Working Committee Ukhrul stated that “at the same time, the WCKCSOs-Ukhrul unequivocally condemns the selective and biased operation launched by combined force of the 8 Bihar Regiment, Assam Rifles under 10 Sector, and Police at Chepu Yaolen and Patleijang immediately following the incident, without prior investigation and by instantly directing suspicion and blame upon the Kuki-Zo community.
“What is deeply disturbing is that this marks the second instance at TM Kasom where blame has been placed upon the Kuki-Zos, while the Tangkhul areas of TM Kasom and Leingangching continue to remain untouched, unscathed, and seemingly insulated from scrutiny. Such repeated patterns have only strengthened apprehension among the Kuki-Zo populace that selective operations and unequal treatment are being normalised under the watch of the very agencies entrusted to maintain law and order.
“More shocking was the high-handedness displayed during the operation. Reports from the ground indicate that houses were searched without warrants, licensed hunting firearms were seized under the pretext of non-renewal of licenses, personal mobile handsets confiscated and even cultivation knives.
“The unreasonable and one-sided nature of the operation, coupled with the irrational logic employed in seizing licensed hunting guns from vulnerable villages already under threat followed with the immediate removal of army personnels from Mongkot Chepu, resembles a historic pattern of 97-Tangkhul Kuki conflict through which many Kuki-Zo villages in Ukhrul and Kamjong were systematically trapped, weakened, and wiped out. The same pattern emerged at Kharam Vaiphei, around 4:30 PM on 30/05/26 where the SFs removed the village volunteers on the pretext of search operation and let the NSCN(IM) & ZUF(Kamson) to burn the village. The Kuki-Zos shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that such history does not repeat itself in any of the Kuki-Zo villages in Ukhrul.
“While Chepu Yaolen and Patleijang are being unjustly confined and subjected to operations, the Security Forces continue to allow Tangkhul militants and Village Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs), who are responsible for repeated attacks, to move with impunity and repeatedly target Mongkot Chepu without visible consequences.
“Despite countless attacks so far, Mongkot Chepu reportedly came under attack again at approximately 5:47 PM on 29/05/2026 and around 5:00 PM on 30/05/2026, yet no extensive or intensive military operation appears to have been launched against those responsible. This glaring disparity in response raises serious questions regarding the neutrality and intent of security deployment in the region.
“The events at Shangkai on 29/05/2026 have further deepened the anger, resentment, and sense of betrayal among the Kuki-Zo people. The WCKCSOs-Ukhrul firmly believes that the order to unleash force, including tear gas, upon Kuki-Zo protestors at Shangkai emanated from the office of the Chief Minister. It is profoundly painful that the very Chief Minister who once garnered political goodwill and public recognition through visits to Kuki-Zo relief camps at Litan Sareikhong during the height of our suffering has now, in the eyes of the Kuki-Zo people, abandoned the same people and allowed peaceful protestors to be treated as though they were terrorists.
“Further compounding the anguish and resentment of the Kuki-Zo people was the reprehensible manner in which the protestors at Shangkai were treated. Apart from the manhandling and humiliation of women protestors, student leaders were verbally harassed, intimidated, and physically mistreated. Such actions against youth leaders and peaceful civilians reflect an alarming disregard for democratic expression and civilian dignity. Particularly disturbing was the deployment of tear gas in a manner that endangered vulnerable civilians, including a 95-year-old woman who was seated in her backyard, oblivious to the unfolding chaos and terror around her.
“The indiscriminate and excessive use of force against civilians, women, students, and elderly persons has only reinforced the growing perception that peaceful Kuki-Zo protestors were treated not as citizens with grievances, but as adversaries undeserving of negotiation or restraint.
“Of grave concern was the hostile conduct of the CRPF personnel deployed at Shangkai on 29/05/26, reportedly under the leadership of an identified Tangkhul officer. Eyewitness accounts from the ground reported that the officer acted out of personal & communal grudge disregarding his uniform during crowd control. Most disturbingly, a woman protestor, L. Hemkhoneng, was shot at point-blank range by this communal man-in-uniform. Such an incident, if subjected to fair scrutiny and established, would constitute an unacceptable and disproportionate use of force against an unarmed civilian woman protestor and demands urgent accountability.
“The brutal handling of Kuki-Zo protestors at Shangkai by what is widely perceived among the people as a biased force has only widened mistrust and alienation. The Kuki-Zo people cannot remain silent while peaceful civilians, women protestors, and student leaders are subjected to force, intimidation, and humiliation while genuine threats to vulnerable villages remain insufficiently addressed.
“The Government of Manipur and the Modi-led Government of India must answer why Kuki-Zo civilian settlements continue to remain vulnerable to repeated attacks, abductions, and killings without meaningful intervention, while intensive operations are swiftly launched in Kuki-Zo villages under questionable grounds. The Government must also answer whether there exists an undeclared immunity for the Tangkhul militants that permits repeated attacks on Kuki-Zo settlements without meaningful accountability or consequence.
I”n view of the persistent unjust treatment meted out to the Kuki-Zos of Ukhrul, especially in relation to the brute force utilised against women protestors, the harassment of student leaders, and the unjust operation launched on 30/05/2026, the WCKCSOs-Ukhrul hereby declares the following:
1. Immediate eviction of the CRPF personnel occupying the Litan Sareikhong Kuki Baptist Church building.
2.Launch of a Non-Cooperation Movement against the Security Forces and all Government agencies until justice, equal treatment, and meaningful security assurances are ensured for the Kuki-Zos.
“In light of the continued failure of the present Government of Manipur to safeguard the lives, dignity, and interests of the Kuki-Zo people, the WCKCSOs-Ukhrul declares that it recognises no Chief Minister of Manipur who conveniently traded the safety of our people just to appease the Tangkhul community and should anything happen to the Kuki-Zo population, especially villagers of Mongkot Chepu, Patleijang and Chepu Yaolen, the deployed security forces, district administration and the government of Manipur will be solely responsible for it” stated the statement issued by the Department of Information and Media, WCKCSOs-Ukhrul
