At the same time, hundreds of women under the banner of the Kuki Women Union (KWU), Ukhrul, began an indefinite sit-in protest at Shangkhai village, demanding administrative intervention over what they described as discriminatory treatment of Kuki-Zo communities. Protesters said the agitation would continue until Ukhrul Deputy Commissioner Uppuluri Chaitanya personally addresses their grievances and provides a lasting solution.
BY PC Bureau
June 21, 2026: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) on Sunbday accused Central Security Forces of subjecting civilians to harassment and intimidation during ongoing combing operations in Leilon Vaiphei and nearby villages, alleging that innocent residents were being unfairly targeted under the pretext of security measures.
In a statement, the apex Kuki body claimed that security personnel had imposed what it described as a “military-style lockdown” in Leilon Vaiphei, a village that has witnessed prolonged unrest. According to KIM, forces conducted extensive house-to-house searches and questioned residents, including women, children, students and elderly citizens.
READ: CJP Activists Dig In as NEET Paper Leak Agitation Continues
The organisation alleged that the operations were taking place at a time when the Kuki-Zo community was already facing severe hardships due to what it termed an economic blockade affecting the movement of essential supplies. KIM claimed that prolonged restrictions on transportation routes had worsened the difficulties faced by residents in the region.
A joint team of Manipur Police, CRPF, and the Army is conducting search operations in the general areas of Leilon Vaiphei and Konsakhul in Kangpokpi District since last night.
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) June 21, 2026
Expressing concern over the situation, KIM urged authorities to immediately halt what it described as civilian harassment and reassess security operations in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas. The organisation also called on the government to prioritise the restoration of supply lines and ensure the uninterrupted movement of food, medicines and other essential commodities.
KIM further appealed to the Centre and law enforcement agencies to uphold constitutional safeguards and ensure equal protection for all citizens. The organisation warned that continued neglect of the community’s concerns could aggravate tensions and further complicate efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the conflict-hit state.
Kuki Women’s Protest
Meanwhile, hundreds of Kuki women under the banner of the Kuki Women Union (KWU), Ukhrul, began a sit-in protest today at Shangkhai village in Ukhrul district. The demonstration, held under the aegis of the Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations, Ukhrul (WCKCSOs-UKHRUL), highlights an ongoing humanitarian access crisis affecting Kuki-Zo communities in the area.
The organisers described the protest as a response to severe restrictions on movement and access to essential services faced by Kuki-Zo residents. Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Escorting food for Tangkhuls, silence for Kuki-Zo,” “A DC serves every citizen, not selective citizens,” and “Let the government act without bias,” underscoring allegations of selective treatment and bias by district authorities.
The sit-in is set to continue indefinitely until Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Uppuluri Chaitanya, IAS, personally meets the protesting women and provides a concrete, permanent solution to the grievances. Organisers emphasised that the demonstration remains entirely peaceful and aims solely to draw urgent administrative intervention.
This action follows earlier protests by Kuki groups in the district, including demands related to the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May and concerns over alleged abductions and systemic issues affecting Kuki communities in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
The protest comes amid heightened tensions in Manipur, where ethnic divides between Kuki-Zo and Naga (particularly Tangkhul) communities have led to repeated clashes, road blockades, and mutual accusations of harassment along key routes like NH-202.
