After traveling hundreds of kilometers due to the absence of exam centers in Kuki-dominated areas, many candidates now face disqualification over height requirements. KSO warns of consequences.
BY PC Bureau
The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) General Headquarters has strongly condemned the sudden disqualification of 144 candidates from the SSC Sub-Inspector (SI) Examination for Delhi Police and CAPFs 2024. The disqualification, announced in an official notification by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on March 5, 2025, came just before Paper-II of the exam, sparking outrage among affected candidates.
According to KSO, more than 80 of the disqualified candidates were from the Kuki community, many of whom had already faced severe hardships in appearing for the exam due to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. The organization accused SSC of arbitrary decision-making and systemic discrimination, stating that Kuki candidates had been unfairly targeted.
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Candidates Traveled Long Distances Amid Conflict
Due to the absence of SSC examination centers in Kuki-dominated districts and the inaccessibility of Imphal, many Kuki aspirants had been forced to travel hundreds of kilometers outside the state to take the exam. Despite the financial burden and security risks, they had cleared the initial stages of the selection process.
However, KSO leaders argued that the sudden disqualification, citing height requirements, was a deliberate act of exclusion. They questioned why these criteria had not been enforced earlier in the process. “If these candidates did not meet the physical requirements, why were they allowed to clear the earlier rounds and prepare for Paper-II at great personal expense?” a KSO spokesperson asked.
Allegations of Discrimination and Systemic Bias
KSO described the decision as a “mockery of the system” and accused SSC of deliberately marginalizing Kuki youth. The organization pointed to a pattern of exclusion, citing the long-standing demand for SSC examination centers in Kuki-dominated areas, which had been repeatedly ignored.
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“The continued denial of examination centers in our districts forces our youth to spend money and risk their safety to compete on an unfair playing field,” KSO stated in its official response. The group warned that this latest act of exclusion would not be tolerated and that they would take all necessary steps to ensure justice for the affected candidates.
Demands for Reinstatement and Warning of Consequences
KSO demanded an immediate reconsideration of the disqualification and the reinstatement of the affected candidates. The organization warned that if authorities failed to act, they would be responsible for any consequences that followed.
The controversy erupted at a time when tensions in Manipur remained high due to ongoing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The Kuki community had long accused the state administration of bias, particularly in matters of employment and education. Security analysts warned that such perceived injustices could further inflame the already volatile situation in the region.
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KSO urged the SSC and the central government to address the grievances before the situation escalated further.
