The UKNA, a Kuki militant group under investigation by the NIA, has threatened severe consequences if a peace-oriented press conference proceeds. The Meitei Heritage Society pushes back, calling out the group’s resistance to dialogue.
BY PC Bureau
The United Kuki National Army (UKNA), a Kuki militant group that is not part of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and is currently under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has issued a strong warning against the joint press conference organized by the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) and the Meitei Alliance.
In a statement, UKNA condemned the press conference, calling it an act of betrayal amid the suffering of the Kuki people. The group demanded that the event be canceled by 12 PM on March 7, 2025, warning of severe consequences if the organizers proceed. The statement further declared that those who defy the directive “shall not be allowed to live in our territory and area.”
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Meitei Heritage Society Condemns Threat
In response, the Meitei Heritage Society criticized the opposition to the event, particularly the militant group’s ultimatum.
“We have seen public statements from certain Kuki civil society and student groups opposing the press conference,” the organization stated. “It is unfortunate that efforts to restore peace are being met with hostility.”
The Meitei Heritage Society condemned the UKNA’s threat, reiterating that the press conference would proceed as planned.
“This intimidation only reinforces our long-standing stance—that Kuki militant groups do not want peace in Manipur, as they continue to rule over the common people with guns,” the statement added.
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The press conference is organized jointly by the Meitei Alliance, a consortium representing Meitei organizations outside Manipur, and Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the apex body of the Thadou Tribe in Manipur.
What is UKNA?
The United Kuki National Army (UKNA) is a militant group operating primarily in Manipur, India, and parts of Myanmar. It is an armed faction linked to the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), which was established on February 24, 1988, with the objective of creating a separate state for the Kuki people across India and Myanmar. However, unlike KNO, UKNA is not part of the SoO agreement with the Indian government.
In March 2023, the Manipur government called for a review of the ceasefire agreement with the Kuki National Army (KNA) and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), citing concerns over illegal activities, including alleged involvement in poppy cultivation in protected forest areas along the Myanmar border. However, since UKNA was never part of the SoO agreement, it remains an active militant group under investigation by the NIA
