The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust has condemned the Centre’s decision to award the Shaurya Chakra to a CRPF officer, alleging it legitimises the killing of 10 Kuki-Zo villagers in Manipur’s Jiribam district.
BY PC Bureau
January 26, 2026: The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has strongly criticised the Government of India’s decision to confer the Shaurya Chakra on CRPF Assistant Commandant Vipin Wilson, alleging that the award amounts to a state endorsement of what it described as an “extrajudicial execution” of ten Kuki-Zo (Hmar) village volunteers in Manipur’s Jiribam district.
In a press statement issued on Monday, KOHUR said the killings took place on November 11, 2024, during a period of ethnic violence in the state. The organisation claimed that credible evidence, including forensic reports and eyewitness accounts, indicates that the victims were either unarmed or minimally armed civilians engaged in community defence activities.
Rejecting official claims that the deceased were militants, KOHUR alleged that the narrative was fabricated to justify what it termed a “one-sided and disproportionate use of lethal force.” “This was not an encounter — it was an execution,” the statement asserted.
The human rights body further argued that conferring a gallantry award for the operation on Republic Day represents a betrayal of constitutional values and sends a message that violence against minority communities can be rewarded rather than scrutinised.
“KOHUR views this decision as a signal that impunity for state violence against minority communities is not only tolerated but celebrated,” the statement said.
The organisation issued a set of demands, including the immediate revocation of the Shaurya Chakra awarded to Assistant Commandant Wilson and all related commendations given to his team. It also called for an independent investigation into the Jiribam incident under the supervision of the Supreme Court, with the participation of credible human rights observers.
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According to KOHUR, such an inquiry must determine command responsibility, examine alleged discrepancies in official accounts, and ensure accountability for those involved. The group also demanded criminal prosecution of personnel found responsible for unlawful killings, misuse of force, and attempts to conceal facts.
“The Government of India must choose between upholding the rule of law and constitutional rights, or continuing to use authority and honours to sanitise violence and deepen divisions,” the statement said.
KOHUR said it stood in solidarity with the families of the victims and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice, dignity, and human rights for the Kuki-Zo people.
There was no immediate response from the Union government or the Central Reserve Police Force to the allegations raised in the statement.
