The memorandum, signed by top Kuki-Zo tribal leaders, warns that the actions of the NIA and CBI have fueled anxiety and mistrust among a community already traumatized by violence and displacement.
BY PC Bureau
June 25: A joint delegation of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from Kangpokpi district, led by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, voicing deep concern over what they described as “rampant and seemingly selective arrests” of Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers by central agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The memorandum, submitted via the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi following a massive public rally in the town, emphasized that while the community respects the legal mandate of investigative agencies, the ongoing operations have disproportionately targeted members of the Kuki-Zo community—particularly those who volunteered to defend their villages during the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.
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“These actions have caused significant anxiety, fear, and mistrust within our community, which continues to suffer from violence, displacement, and loss,” the memorandum noted.
The CSOs warned that such “aggressive and unbalanced actions” threaten the very existence of the Kuki-Zo people and risk further eroding trust in government institutions amid a fragile and polarized environment. They urged the central government to adopt a fair and compassionate approach that fosters reconciliation rather than division.
#Manipur
Minority tribal Kukis held a massive rally in Kangpokpi today to protest against the arbitrary arrests of our innocent people by biased security agencies such as @NIA_India @CBIHeadquarters instead of arresting the main culprits like Korounganba Khuman & @NBirenSingh. pic.twitter.com/5MREul1LDj— David 𝐊𝐮𝐤𝐢 (@KipsKuki) June 25, 2025
The memorandum laid out five urgent demands:
- Immediate suspension of arrests of Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers until a fair, transparent, and inclusive investigation framework is established.
- Ensure impartiality by investigating all sides involved in the conflict, not targeting any one ethnic group.
- Initiate confidence-building measures through engagement with community leaders on a neutral platform.
- Recognize the conflict’s historical, ethnic, and territorial dimensions in all peace-building efforts.
- Acknowledge and protect the dignity and safety of Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers defending their communities.
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The memorandum was signed by key tribal leaders and representatives, including: Ngamkhohao Haokip, Chairman, CoTU; Lunkhosei Zou, General Secretary, KSO Sadar Hills ; Ginminthang Kipgen, President, Thadou Inpi Kangpokpi District; Chungkhokai Haokip, Spokesperson, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills ;Letkhosat Haokip, President, Kuki Women Union Sadar Hills ; T. Lunkhosei, Secretary, Zomi Council Kangpokpi.
The submission comes amid growing unrest in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, where community organizations have accused national agencies of targeting tribal volunteers under the guise of investigation. Protests, including indefinite sit-ins and shutdown calls, have already been announced by groups such as the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF).
