The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights condemns the shooting of Mrs. Haokip as a “heinous and cold-blooded” act, citing repeated buffer zone violations and rising insecurity in tribal areas.
BY PC Burau
June 19, 2025
A wave of grief and fury swept across the Kuki-Zo community after the brutal killing of Hoikholhing Haokip, wife of Langchingmanbi village chief Khaikhogin Haokip. Her husband passed away in 1993, and since then she was acting as Village chief She was shot by a stray bullet allegedly fired by security forces on the evening of June 19 in Langchingmanbi, Churachandpur, and succumbed to her injuries shortly after. The killing has reignited outrage over what tribal groups are calling a sustained campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to initial reports, the incident occurred amid tensions following gunfire earlier that day in Phubala, where a Meitei man was injured in firing by unidentified attackers . In response, security forces—believed to be from the Sikh Regiment—conducted a combing operation in the Heichanglok area, during which they fired multiple shots.. Hoikholhing was struck by one of the bullets and later died from her injuries. Her body was sent to the Churachandpur District Hospital for post-mortem examination.
“A Heinous Act, A Systemic Failure”
Three major tribal organizations—The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)—issued strong condemnations, describing the murder as a “cold-blooded and heinous act of violence” and a grim reminder of impunity, systemic bias, and escalating threats to tribal civilians.
KWOHR squarely blamed the repeated violations of the buffer zone—a government-declared area meant to prevent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The organization called the zone “meaningless” if only one side abides by its terms.
“The killing of Hoikholhing is not an isolated incident, but a systemic failure of the state to uphold neutrality and protect the Kuki people,” the KWOHR stated. “Justice must not only be done—it must be seen to be done.”
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ITLF Declares Indefinite Shutdown
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) accused the state of gross negligence and complicity, noting that repeated warnings about buffer zone violations went unheeded. In a media release, the ITLF declared an indefinite shutdown across Kuki-Zo tribal areas as a mark of mourning and protest.
Brutal Killing of Village Chief’s Wife Sparks Outrage, ITLF declares indefinite shutdown. KWOHR, ITLF demand justice, buffer zone enforcement, and inquiry.
Read here: https://t.co/SkaR6OVPpm #Phubala #Langchingmanbi #Kuki #ManipurUnrest #ManipurViolence pic.twitter.com/EVvBKHSRES
— VIRTHLI (@VIRTHLI) June 19, 2025
“The silence and inaction of the authorities… have allowed this culture of impunity to flourish,” said the ITLF. “Security forces, aware of violations by Meitei aggressors, have failed in their constitutional duty to protect the vulnerable.”
Joint CSOs Endorse Shutdown and Demand Justice
In a Joint Press Release, leaders from various Kuki Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) formally endorsed the indefinite shutdown declared by the ITLF. They expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and described Mrs. Hoikholhing’s killing as part of a broader campaign of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing.
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“Her assassination is a chilling reminder of the deliberate and relentless violence… abetted by the inaction—and at times, complicity—of the state apparatus,” said the CSO leaders.
The statement, endorsed by key leaders from the Kuki Inpi, KSO, KCA, KKL, KWU, and KWOHR, urged all Kuki communities, institutions, and individuals to strictly observe the shutdown and stand united in demanding justice.
KOHUR Joins In: “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied”
The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) also released a statement on June 19 condemning the murder and linking it to a pattern of coordinated ethnic violence against the Kuki people since May 2023.
“This heinous act… is part of a continuing and coordinated campaign of ethnic violence against the Kuki people,” KOHUR said.
KOHUR raised concerns about the conduct of central security forces, accusing them of projecting neutrality while enabling atrocities through either “deliberate inaction or willful oversight.” The organization demanded:
- A transparent and independent investigation into the killing of Mrs. Hoikholhing
- A broader probe into the systematic targeting of Kuki communities
- International attention and intervention by human rights bodies and civil society
“Justice delayed is justice denied — and we will not allow our voices to be drowned in the apathy of the state,” KOHUR declared.
Demands from KWOHR, ITLF, Kohur, and CSOs
The organizations jointly demanded:
- Immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for Mrs. Hoikholhing’s murder.
- Strict and impartial enforcement of the buffer zone with equal accountability.
- Deployment of neutral central forces to ensure safety and deter provocations.
- A judicial or independent inquiry into buffer zone violations and targeted killings.
- Concrete protection guarantees for tribal lives, land, and dignity.
A Call to National and International Bodies
KWOHR and ITLF appealed to national and international human rights organizations, the media, and civil society to take urgent note of the deteriorating situation in Manipur and pressure the government to act impartially, decisively, and urgently.
“Justice for Mrs. Hoikholhing. Justice for the Kuki people,” concluded the KWOHR—a rallying cry now echoed across a grieving but determined tribal population
