KOHUR has revealed that at least two Kuki detainees from Myanmar, who have already completed their jail terms, continue to be held unlawfully at Imphal Central Jail.
BY PC Bureau
July 25, 2025 — In a strongly worded appeal issued simultaneously to the Governor of Manipur and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has called for urgent intervention in what it describes as a “grave humanitarian and constitutional concern” surrounding the continued detention of more than 64 Kuki detainees who are Myanmar nationals, currently lodged at Imphal Central Jail.
The detainees, who crossed over to Manipur from neighbouring Myanmar, reportedly remain excluded from a transfer process that was initiated weeks ago under orders from the state government. These orders had mandated the relocation of undertrial Kuki inmates to temporary prisons in Kuki-dominated districts such as Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal, citing safety, access to cultural and language support, and the prevailing communal tensions in Imphal.
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While Indian Kuki undertrials have been transferred in compliance with these directives, the Myanmar-origin Kuki detainees—despite belonging to the same ethnic, linguistic, and cultural group—continue to be held at Imphal Central Jail, a facility considered unsafe in the current volatile atmosphere. According to KOHUR, this differential treatment based on nationality amounts to discrimination and violates both constitutional protections and international human rights obligations.
The most alarming revelation, according to KOHUR, is that two individuals among the detainees have already completed their full jail sentences but remain incarcerated. Their continued detention without legal sanction, the group argues, constitutes arbitrary detention and a serious violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. The organization also flagged violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a signatory.
The letter, dated July 25, 2025, is signed by Benjamin Mate, Chairman of KOHUR.
Subject: Urgent Appeal for the Transfer of Kuki Myanmar National Detainees to Kuki-Dominated Districts of Manipur and Release of Two Detainees Held Beyond Sentence Period.
-The letter addresses the… pic.twitter.com/UGhY5zpgpc
— Mighty Warrior Kuki (@Kamginthan40473) July 25, 2025
“These individuals, though foreign nationals, are ethnically, culturally, and linguistically indistinguishable from the Kuki population in Manipur. Many have familial and ancestral ties in the region,” KOHUR stated in its petition. It emphasized that subjecting them to prolonged detention in a potentially hostile environment places them at risk of violence, psychological trauma, and exclusion from even basic legal and humanitarian safeguards.
KOHUR has urged the authorities to view the matter through a humanitarian lens and to ensure that these detainees are granted the same treatment extended to Indian Kuki inmates. The letters appeal to both the Governor and the NHRC to act in accordance with the principles of justice, equality before law, and humane treatment that underpin India’s constitutional framework.
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In its appeal to the NHRC, KOHUR has further sought an inquiry into the matter to prevent recurrence of what it calls “discriminatory treatment”, asking that detention practices align with both constitutional mandates and international human rights standards.
“This is not merely a matter of custodial logistics,” said H.S. Benjamin Mate, Chairman of KOHUR. “It touches on the core values of dignity, equality, and justice—values that should not be denied to any human being, regardless of their nationality.”
A detailed list of the detainees currently held at Imphal Central Jail has been enclosed with the appeals. Copies have also been marked to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Manipur.
The appeals come at a time when communal tensions continue to grip the state, making the location of detention a matter of both legal and life-threatening concern. As these individuals await relief, civil society voices are growing louder in questioning whether equal protection under law in India truly extends to all who seek refuge on its soil.
