Mate’s arrest amid ethnic tensions draws sharp criticism, with rights groups alleging selective justice and unchecked state power against the Kuki-Zo community.
BY PC BUREAU
The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has condemned the arrest of Thangminlen Mate, a spokesperson for Kuki Inpi, Tengnoupal, calling it a blatant violation of constitutional rights. Mate was arrested earlier this month while traveling with his family from Ngoupa Mate village in Aizawl, Mizoram, to Churachandpur. KOHUR has termed the arrest “arbitrary, unlawful, and politically motivated.”
The organization claims the detention is part of a “broader campaign of criminalization” against Kuki civil society leaders, who have increasingly been at odds with the state government over issues of representation, security, and ethnic autonomy. Invoking Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, KOHUR asserts that the arrest violates Mate’s fundamental right to life and personal liberty.
Mate’s arrest comes amid simmering ethnic tensions in Manipur, which exploded in May 2023 after a controversial Manipur High Court order recommended Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community. The Kuki-Zo tribes, who already enjoy ST status, opposed the decision, citing concerns over land rights and constitutional protections. The conflict spiraled into violence, displacing thousands and claiming over 250 lives. Since then, the region has remained volatile.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) vehemently condemns the arbitrary and discriminatory registration of an FIR by the Manipur Police against Mr. Paojakhup Guite, the incumbent President of the Kuki Students’ Organisation,Delhi and NCR.
It has come to our… pic.twitter.com/36KufnOrBc
— Voice Of The Hills (@VoiceOfDaHills) May 17, 2025
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The Kuki-Zo community has accused the Biren Singh-led state government of systemic bias and state-backed discrimination. The government’s eviction drives in tribal areas, enforcement actions against poppy cultivation, and failure to prosecute Meitei militias like Arambai Tenggol have intensified distrust.
KOHUR argues that while Kuki leaders like Mate are being criminalized, Meitei leaders accused of inciting violence, such as Korounganba of Arambai Tenggol, have evaded prosecution despite being named in NIA investigations.
Mate, known for his outspoken advocacy of Kuki-Zo rights, has played a central role in resisting what many in the community perceive as institutional discrimination. His arrest is viewed by rights groups as emblematic of the state’s selective enforcement of the law, which KOHUR says directly violates Article 14 of the Constitution—guaranteeing equality before the law.
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KOHUR’s Demands
KOHUR is demanding Mate’s immediate and unconditional release, calling for an independent review of the detention. It has urged state and central authorities to ensure rule of law and equal protection for all communities. The group warns that using state power to silence dissenting voices only deepens Manipur’s ethnic chasm.
As grievances continue to mount—ranging from lack of infrastructure to unchecked militia activity—the call for equitable governance and open dialogue grows more urgent. For many in the Kuki-Zo community, Mate’s arrest is not an isolated event, but a symbol of a deeper crisis in Manipur’s democratic and constitutional order.
