As Manipur Police hunts for KSO-Delhi & NCR president Paojakhup Guite over alleged “threats” to Meitei festivalgoers, Kuki groups slam the FIR as an attack on their leadership and a distortion of Guite’s speech. Citing past killings and ethnic violence, they demand the FIR’s immediate withdrawal and justice for Kuki victims.
BY PC Bureau
May 18, 2025 – A wave of outrage has swept through Kuki student organizations and community groups, including Young Kuki, following the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) by Manipur Police against Paojakhup Guite, president of the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Delhi & NCR. The FIR, lodged in Churachandpur district on May 17, 2025, stems from a viral social media video in which Guite allegedly threatened to prevent Meitei community members from crossing buffer zones to attend the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul, scheduled for May 20-24. Kuki groups have denounced the FIR as “politically motivated” and “discriminatory,” rallying for its immediate withdrawal.
The KSO Delhi & NCR issued a scathing press release, branding the FIR a “spurious and vindictive move” aimed at silencing Kuki voices. The organization defended Guite’s remarks, made during a public address in Churachandpur, as a legitimate expression of concern over encroachments on buffer zones established to maintain peace amid Manipur’s ethnic tensions since May 2023. “This FIR is not just an attack on our president but part of a broader campaign to delegitimize Kuki leadership,” the statement asserted, emphasizing that “speaking truth to power is not sedition—it is democratic courage.”
Young Kuki, a vocal advocacy group for Kuki youth, joined the condemnation in a detailed statement issued on May 17, 2025, titled “Manipur Police or Meiteipur Police?” The group expressed dismay at the FIR, stating, “We, the Young Kuki, issue this statement in response to the recent filing of an FIR by the Manipur Police against Pu Paojakhup Guite, President of KSO-Delhi & NCR. While we are surprised by the swift action taken by the police in response to alleged ‘threats,’ we believe the matter has been taken out of context and blown out of proportion.”
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They defended Guite’s speech, noting, “In his speech at Songpi District (Churachandpur), Pu Paojakhup merely emphasized that any attempt by Meiteis to cross the established buffer zones would be met with consequences. His statement reflects a reality rooted in past incidents where Kukis who inadvertently cross the buffer zones have previously faced fatal outcomes.”
Several Kuki Students' Organizations (KSO) from across the country have strongly denounced the FIR filed by the Manipur Police against Mr. Paojakhup. In a unified stance, these organizations have labeled the FIR as politically motivated and are collectively calling for its… pic.twitter.com/puJzUqd7nP
— Being KUKI (@Being_KUKI) May 17, 2025
Young Kuki specifically referenced the killing of Limkholal Mate to underline their concerns, stating, “For instance, on 9th September 2024, Limkholal Mate, a former Indian Army personnel, was killed while crossing a buffer zone to purchase medicine for his wife.” They further highlighted another incident, adding, “Similarly, on 8th November 2023, a Kuki wedding party was stopped, and its members were snatched from security personnel and killed by Meitei assailants. These tragic examples show the dangers Kukis face when crossing into the buffer-zones.” The group criticized the perceived double standard, asserting, “Given this history, it is absurd that the Meiteis think they can freely cross buffer zones which were established after the loss of many lives.” Young Kuki also clarified their stance on coexistence, saying, “We respect the rights of the Meitei community to travel anywhere, celebrate any festivals and travel anywhere but they should do so without trespassing into Kuki territories.”
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In the same statement, Young Kuki urged the Manipur Police to redirect their focus to other individuals they consider more dangerous, specifically naming Tyson Ngamba. They stated, “Furthermore, we urge the Manipur Police to direct their attention toward Tyson Ngamba, known among Meiteis as Kourounganba and among Kukis as Vohpi. Vohpi has openly challenged the state police and made public threats of genocide against the Kuki people while brandishing sophisticated weapons atop a Manipur Police vehicle. This is not an isolated incident but one single example will be enough for the authorities to take appropriate legal action against him if the Manipur Police really take the threat of killings seriously.”
The group also criticized the police’s handling of the situation, adding, “Lastly, we the Young Kuki believe that the translator they employ must have been pretty bad and sub-par if they mistranslated Pu Paojakhup speech in such a wrong context so we advise Manipur Police to hire new translators too.”
The Kuki Students’ Organisation, Churachandpur, echoed these sentiments, accusing the Manipur Police of “blatant selective justice” in an X post, calling for an independent probe into police actions. “The FIR against Paojakhup Guite is a clear attempt to silence a marginalized community’s voice,” the statement read. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) also condemned the FIR as “arbitrary and discriminatory,” demanding justice for Guite and amplifying the Kuki community’s struggles via the hashtag #KukiAdivasiLivesMatter.
Multiple KSO chapters across India issued a joint statement demanding the “unconditional and immediate withdrawal” of the FIR, accusing the Manipur Police of targeting Guite to stifle Kuki advocacy. “This politically motivated FIR sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the democratic fabric of our nation,” the statement warned, appealing to national media and authorities.
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The controversy stems from Guite’s video, which questioned the motives behind organizing the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul, a Naga-majority district accessible via Kuki villages. KSO Delhi & NCR defended Guite, stating his comments reflected the Kuki community’s “deeply rooted fears” of state apathy and systemic exclusion. Buffer zones, established after violent clashes since May 2023, separate Kuki-dominated hill areas from Meitei-majority valleys. The killing of Limkholal Mate, a 65-year-old former havaldar who was beaten to death after crossing into a Meitei area, has heightened Kuki concerns about buffer zone safety, with Mate’s son, Thangminlun, lamenting the inability to retrieve his father’s body due to ongoing ethnic divides.
Manipur Police have launched a search operation to apprehend Guite, who is reportedly absconding, and have sought assistance from police in Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. Authorities have assured robust security for the Shirui Lily Festival.
The Meitei Heritage Society (MHS) countered the Kuki narrative, condemning Guite’s remarks as “shocking and inflammatory.” The MHS alleged that Guite incited violence against Meiteis attending the festival and labeled him a “habitual offender,” citing a separate FIR filed by Delhi Police in March 2025. The society urged strict legal action to prevent further escalation.
As tensions simmer, Kuki organizations have called for an impartial investigation into the FIR and broader issues of ethnic discrimination in Manipur. “We demand not only the withdrawal of this unjust FIR but also accountability for those perpetuating division,” KSO Delhi & NCR stated. With the Shirui Lily Festival approaching, the outcry over Guite’s FIR underscores the fragile ethnic dynamics in Manipur, where incidents like Mate’s killing and unchecked threats from figures like Tyson Ngamba continue to deepen divisions and hinder reconciliation efforts
