Representatives of the Kuki-Zo community have urged the Indian government to replace BSF and CRPF forces in the Kuki-Zo hills with the Assam Rifles, as tensions continue to escalate in Manipur. The Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum has also demanded that the state government cover medical expenses for victims of the December 31 clash and called for a full investigation into the excessive use of force by security personnel.
BY PC Bureau
The Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum in Delhi on Thursday called for a high-level inquiry into the Saibol incident that occurred on December 31, in which at least 40 women were seriously injured during clashes with security forces. One woman tragically lost her left eye, while another woman suffered a miscarriage of her two-month pregnancy due to the attack.
Addressing the media, the Kuki-Zo women emphasized the excessive use of force by security personnel against these unarmed women. They also expressed concerns that peace would remain unattainable as long as Chief Minister Biren Singh remained in office. The group insisted that lasting peace in the state could only be achieved through the creation of an administrative unit under the control of the Kuki-Zo community.
LAPC: Saibol Casualty Report!!
—Leimakhong Area Protection Committee gave report of casualties on Saibol incident, 31st Dec.
—Total Casuality is 65 persons, 2 of them were critical & were taken to Guwahati for treatment.
—Why did govt kept silent on the incident& the casualties? pic.twitter.com/5qafe6qu6T— KSO Mumbai (@KSO_Mumbai) January 6, 2025
The women further demanded the immediate removal of the BSF and CRPF from the Kuki-Zo hills, advocating for their replacement by the Assam Rifles. Additionally, they requested that the state government bear the medical expenses of those injured in the December 31 clash, especially for Lhingkhonei Neish Mate, who lost her left eye in the incident.
Kuki-Zo representatives Kim Haokip and Neng Khongsai shared graphic accounts of the December 31 clash, describing it as a continuation of the atrocities faced by the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur since the onset of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023.
Kim Haokip expressed her outrage, stating, “What happened was shameful. The security forces were armed, yet what threat could these women have posed? They were only demanding that the security forces vacate the bunkers where Kuki volunteers once protected them from aggression by Meitei militants. Our women were treated like animals.”
Massive Public Protest Rocks Kangpokpi Over Force Deployment in Saibol
https://t.co/554d49BE4b— The Hills Journal (@HillsJournal) January 3, 2025
She continued, saying, “The mistrust and hostility between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities are now so deep that coexisting as we did before is impossible. Our houses in the valley have been destroyed, and we now live in the hills. We can’t even access hospitals and schools in the valley. Even yesterday, some remaining Kuki homes were burned down in the valley. The only solution is to secure the buffer zone with armed forces and create a separate Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo people.”
Neng Khongsai, tearfully recounting the horrors, described the tragic loss of lives, including a seven-year-old boy, Tonsing Hangsing, who was burned alive with his mother while being transported to the hospital. She also mentioned the brutal killings of Olivia Changloi and Florence Hengshing and the gruesome fate of David Thiek, whose hands were allegedly chopped off by Arambai Tenggiol militants, and whose head was taken as a trophy after his murder. “Every time I think of these faces, I can’t control my tears,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.
Khongsai called for national media to take notice of the violence in Manipur, stating, “We want the nation to hear our voices and see our plight.”
Former MP Kim Gangte made a strong case for the creation of a Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo community, arguing that only through self-governance could the Kuki people protect their lives and property in the midst of the ongoing conflict. She pointed out that while the Meitei and Kuki communities had lived in harmony for thousands of years, the bond has now been shattered. He stated, “Both communities cannot live together anymore. If the Centre wants to resolve this issue, they must begin a dialogue process and concede to our demand for a Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo people.”
When asked about the killing of Meitei people in Jiribam, allegedly by Kuki militants, Gangte condemned the violence and clarified that none of the Kuki-Zo groups had claimed responsibility for the killings. She said, “I would never support such means to achieve our objectives. We want a solution to this conflict within the constitutional framework of India. We do not support any separatist agenda.”
Main Demands of Kuki-Zo Women:
- High-Level Inquiry into December 31 Incident
- Demand for a thorough investigation into the excessive use of force by security forces, which resulted in severe injuries to Kuki-Zo women.
- Medical Support for Victims
- State government should cover medical expenses for victims of the December 31 clash, including those who lost their eye and others severely wounded.
- Removal of BSF and CRPF from Kuki-Zo Hills
- Demand for the replacement of BSF and CRPF forces with Assam Rifles in the Kuki-Zo hills to ensure better security and peace.
- Creation of a Separate Union Territory for Kuki-Zo Community
- Call for the establishment of a Union Territory under Kuki-Zo governance to secure the community’s safety, autonomy, and peaceful coexistence.
- National Attention to Kuki-Zo Suffering
- Urging the nation to recognize and address the ongoing atrocities faced by the Kuki-Zo community, ensuring their voices are heard and their struggles acknowledged.
