The Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum and KOHUR have criticized Assam Rifles for what they call an unjustified attack on Kuki self-defense volunteers in Laijang village. They demand restraint and an end to selective military aggression.
March 13, 2025
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) and the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum have strongly condemned the alleged unprovoked attack by the 26th Sector of the Assam Rifles against Kuki village volunteers in Laijang Village, Chandel District, Manipur, on March 12, 2025.
According to reports, the attack, which targeted Kuki self-defense groups known as the Village Volunteers, has caused significant unrest among the Kuki-Zo population in Manipur. Social media has been abuzz with allegations that the Assam Rifles used drones in the assault, a claim echoed by the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum. However, official confirmation of drone use remains unavailable.
KOHUR Calls the Attack Unjust
In a statement, KOHUR condemned the Assam Rifles’ actions as a “disproportionate and unjustifiable” use of force against village volunteers engaged in self-defense. The organization emphasized that these volunteers are not aggressors but civilians compelled to take up arms to protect their communities from continued violence by Meitei extremist groups.
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“Manipur is experiencing a devastating ethnic conflict, with Kuki tribal communities suffering targeted violence at the hands of the majority Meitei community,” KOHUR stated. “Thousands of Kukis have been displaced, villages destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Instead of addressing the failure of the state to protect vulnerable tribal populations, security forces are disproportionately targeting Kuki self-defense groups while allowing extremist elements among the Meiteis to act with impunity.”
KOHUR also criticized the failure to disarm Meitei extremist
News coming in from volunteers and Kuki village defense volunteers that the @official_dgar has started heavy military action against them.
“On March 12, 2025, at 7:30 AM in Laijang village, Chandel district. The Assam Rifles, under the command of the 26 Sector, launched a heavy… pic.twitter.com/44V3ZH4cJl
— Siddharthya Roy (@siddharthyaroy) March 12, 2025
groups, such as the Arambai Tengols, who reportedly looted thousands of weapons from state armories. The group called this a glaring double standard that must be immediately rectified.
Concerns Over Assam Rifles’ Neutrality
KOHUR acknowledged the historical role of the Assam Rifles in safeguarding tribal communities but expressed concerns over their current operations. “While the Assam Rifles has played a critical role in maintaining peace, its posturing in Laijang Village raises serious questions about its neutrality and broader political influences at play,” the statement read.
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KOHUR urged the Assam Rifles to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue over militarized actions. “Any action against Kuki village volunteers should only follow the immediate disarmament of Meitei extremist groups, who have been the primary instigators of violence,” the organization added.
Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum Denounces Attack
The Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum (KZWF) also issued a statement condemning the alleged assault. According to KZWF, the attack took place at 7:30 AM on March 12 and involved drone strikes and mortar bombardments against the Village Volunteers Eastern Zone (VVEZ), who reportedly did not retaliate.
“The use of military-grade drones and heavy artillery against a village defense group is an excessive and unlawful application of force, violating constitutional guarantees of justice, equality, and the right to life,” KZWF stated.
KZWF accused the government of contradicting its own peace narrative, pointing out that despite official rhetoric, Kuki-Zo communities have continued to face targeted aggression. “Since May 3, 2023, Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities have coexisted within their respective territories, yet Meitei groups, emboldened by state support, have repeatedly encroached upon Kuki-Zo land and initiated hostilities.”
The organization cited Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality and the right to life and personal liberty, accusing security forces of acting with bias. “The Assam Rifles’ actions in Laijang reflect a pattern of state-sponsored oppression, where selective militarization is used not for national security but to subjugate the Kuki-Zo community.”
Call for Government Action
KZWF reiterated that the Kuki-Zo people will not surrender their ancestral lands or tolerate further encroachments by the Meitei community. The organization highlighted that tribal territories in Manipur predate British colonial rule and are protected under Article 244 and the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“The continued militarization of Kuki-Zo areas and the state’s reluctance to act against Meitei armed militias have only worsened the crisis,” KZWF stated. “If the Indian government truly believes in democracy and justice, it must correct its unconstitutional course in Manipur.”
Both KOHUR and KZWF warned that if state-sponsored aggression continues, the Kuki-Zo people will remain steadfast in defending their rights, their land, and their constitutional protections. “Justice cannot be dictated by force, nor can peace be achieved through the oppression of an entire community,” KZWF concluded.
