As Modi’s visit nears, Kuki-Zo choices appear shaped less by leaders and more by MHA’s pressure. Who truly decides for them?
BY PC Bureau
The Union Home Ministry (MHA) appeared to be steering Kuki-Zo decision-making in the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September 13 visit to Manipur. Two major developments underscored this intervention: first, the abrupt cancellation of a public rally, and second—and more contentious—the dismantling of the coffins at the Wall of Remembrance in Tuibong.
The public rally announced by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) was scheduled for September 6, 2025, at Koite Football Ground and conclude at the Wall of Remembrance, demanding justice and accountability for the Kuki-Zo community. Kuki-Zo women were among the worst sufferers of the May 3, 2023 ethnic clashes—dozens were raped, killed, and two were paraded naked by a mob of Meiteis.
Yet, September 6 came and went without the rally—or even a formal cancellation notice. According to sources, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, including A.K. Mishra, Advisor (Northeast) to the MHA, personally reached out to organisers and civil society groups, urging them to withdraw the programme. After some initial resistance, Kuki-Zo leaders eventually relented. Mishra, a veteran interlocutor, has been handling Manipur’s complex affairs for years with considerable aplomb, often stepping in during sensitive moments to defuse tensions.
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The second issue involved the disgraceful sacrilege of the coffins of “martyrs” from the May 3 violence placed at the Wall of Remembrance in Tuibong. On September 1, the coffins were removed after district officials held talks with civil society organisations (CSOs) and student bodies to avoid embarrassing the Prime Minister during his planned stopover at Peace Ground in Churachandpur. But following threats from the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), a non-signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact, the coffins were reinstated two days ago. Mishra, however, reportedly mounted “relentless pressure” on Kuki-Zo leaders throughout September 8. By evening, resistance had broken down, and with the support of district authorities and the Churachandpur police chief, the coffins were once again removed on the morning of September 9.
“A community that cannot respect its dead cannot protect its living,” remarked a Kuki-Zo activist who was part of the multi-level talks.
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The second removal of coffins has deepened resentment among locals, with the possibility of renewed protests in the days ahead. The episode comes amid heightened preparations for Modi’s first visit to Manipur since the outbreak of violence that has claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands. The Wall of Remembrance—long a rallying point of grief and protest for the Kuki-Zo community—has now become a flashpoint in the battle over memory, symbolism, and political control.
On Tuesday, Manipur Governor A.K. Bhalla visited Churachandpur, where he held discussions with officials and Kuki-Zo MLAs on preparations for the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit. Significantly, the coffins at the Wall of Remembrance were removed just hours before the Governor’s arrival, underscoring the heightened sensitivity around the issue.
