The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) demanded action against alleged perpetrators, including NSCN-IM cadres, and sought the release of 14 abducted civilians.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, May 16, 2026: Hundreds of Kuki-Zo students, youth, and community members gathered at Jantar Mantar today for a large-scale and peaceful protest organised by the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Delhi & NCR. Beginning at around 2:00 PM, the demonstration strongly condemned the recent surge in targeted violence against the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur, particularly the killing of three senior Baptist church pastors just days ago.
Carrying placards, banners, and photographs of the slain pastors, protesters raised slogans demanding immediate government action against NSCN-IM cadres and alleged proxy groups, the safe recovery of abducted civilians, and the establishment of a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people. The protest atmosphere remained emotional and solemn, with participants observing moments of silence and offering prayers for the victims.
Trigger: Killing of Three Church Leaders
The protest was organised in response to the May 13, 2026 ambush in Kangpokpi district, where armed assailants attacked two vehicles carrying church leaders returning from a peace convention in Churachandpur.
The victims included:
- Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, President of Thadou Baptist Association India and former General Secretary of Manipur Baptist Convention
- Rev. Kaigoulun Lhouvum
- Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou
Several others were injured in the attack. KSO and allied organisations have alleged the involvement of NSCN-IM cadres and the ZUF-Kamson faction, along with proxy groups such as the SDSA (Senapati District Students’ Association), in the killings.
In its official press statement , the KSO Delhi & NCR highlighted what it described as a deepening humanitarian and security crisis in Manipur’s hill districts.
The organisation stated that 14 Kuki-Zo men remain abducted, with their whereabouts still unknown, adding to growing fear among affected families.
It also cited repeated incidents of village burnings, including Hajijang, Gampal, K. Songlung, Litan, Mullam, and Lanchah, which have displaced several families and worsened tensions in the region.
Further, the statement alleged the existence of illegal cross-border trade networks, including timber smuggling and drug trafficking hubs in areas such as Namlee, Wanglee, and Choro in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
The KSO also referred to reports attributed to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), alleging NSCN-IM involvement in the looting of a Punjab National Bank branch in Ukhrul amounting to nearly ₹20 crore.
The organisation expressed strong dissatisfaction over what it called the “continued silence and lack of decisive action” by authorities, stating that the situation was unacceptable in a democratic system.
READ: Kuki-Zo Protests Sweep Manipur Hills Over Pastors’ Killing, Hostage Crisis
READ: NSCN Faction Calls India ‘Foreign Occupier’, Issues Grim Warning
मणिपुर में जारी हिंसा के खिलाफ दिल्ली के जंतर मंतर पर लोगों ने विरोध प्रदर्शन किया। #Manipur #JantarMantar #Delhi #Protest #Violence #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/EJ2LqTDCMU
— Maharashtra Bandhu News (@BandhuNews_in) May 16, 2026
Demands Raised at the Protest
During the demonstration, KSO leaders submitted a detailed list of demands to the Government of India, including:
- Immediate abrogation of the ceasefire agreement with NSCN-IM
- Safe release or recovery of 14 abducted Kuki-Zo civilians
- Large-scale combing operations in Ukhrul and Kamjong to dismantle alleged militant camps
- Crackdown on illegal timber and drug networks in hill districts
- Time-bound NIA investigation into the killing of the three pastors
- Strict action against individuals or groups obstructing security forces or aiding armed organisations
- Ban on alleged proxy organisations involved in abductions and communal incitement
- Implementation of a Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people under the Constitution of India
The protest comes against the backdrop of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which began on May 3, 2023, and has since resulted in large-scale violence, displacement, and destruction across multiple communities.
While the initial conflict centred on Meitei-Kuki tensions, recent developments have seen rising tensions involving Naga-Kuki relations in several hill districts, further complicating the security landscape.
KSO described the demonstration as “peaceful and democratic,” urging the Government of India, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the international community to intervene urgently. It warned that continued inaction could further escalate instability in the region.
