In Manipur, different rules apply to different communities. While Meitei protesters and armed groups operate with near impunity, the Kuki-Zo face violent crackdowns for resisting discrimination. The brutal assault on Kuki-Zo demonstrators on March 8 exposes the deep-seated bias in state responses to ethnic tensions.
BY Navin Upadhyay
On March 8, the brutal assault on Kuki-Zo protesters by security forces, which left one dead and nearly 50 injured, was both shocking and unprecedented in the usual pattern of protests and state response in Manipur. However, for the Kuki-Zo community, such repression is nothing new—they have consistently borne the brunt of administrative and security crackdowns.
Targeting of Kuki-Zos:
The March 8 attack is part of a larger pattern of violence against the Kuki-Zo people, who are often accused of provoking clashes–and for right reasons, too. However, while similar actions by other groups, communities, tribes, and organizations are ignored or downplayed by authorities, any act of resistance from the Kuki-Zo is met with swift and brutal repression. This raises serious questions about how they are perceived and targeted by the state. At least one woman lost an eye in the attack, and dozens more were severely injured.
These incidents highlight the systemic bias and continued persecution faced by the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur, where their protests are met with force, while others are treated with leniency. Here are several examples that demonstrate this stark disparity in treatment:
The radicalized Meitei armed militia, who looted 6,000 automatic rifles from the government and are responsible for killings, rapes, and the destruction of 350 churches, have been granted amnesty. Meanwhile, an unarmed Kuki-Zo youth was mercilessly assaulted by the Indian Army.… pic.twitter.com/3Xy0veW7pE
— H S Benjamin Mate (@BenjaminMate1) March 9, 2025
ALSO READ: Young Kuki slams Kuki-Zo leadership. over its inaction, silence
Nagas above law:
In early January 2025, tensions escalated in Manipur’s Kamjong district whenTangkhul Naga residents of Kasom Khullen Block confronted Assam Rifles personnel stationed at a makeshift camp in Hongbei village. The Nags accused the paramilitary forces of harassment, particularly regarding the transportation of timber intended for house construction.
The situation intensified when Assam Rifles personnel intercepted a timber-laden vehicle, meant for smuggling, leading to a large crowd gathering in protest. Despite intervention from local MLA Leishiyo Keishing, who emphasized that timber regulation falls under the jurisdiction of the state’s Forest Department, the Assam Rifles maintained their stance, refusing to allow the materials to be transported.
In response, local women organized protests against the Assam Rifles’ actions. The confrontation escalated when the Assam Rifles allegedly used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the protesters. In retaliation, the villagers stormed and destroyed the makeshift camp, demanding the withdrawal of Assam Rifles personnel from the area.
Following the incident, Assam Rifles personnel vacated the makeshift post in Hongbei village. The villagers accused the paramilitary force of overstepping its authority by interfering in matters under the jurisdiction of the state’s Forest Department.
This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between local communities and security forces in Manipur, particularly concerning the regulation of timber transportation and allegations of harassment by security personnel.
ALSO READ: Opinion: Not Bullets and Bayonets—Manipur Needs Justice and Accountability
Free hand to Meitei Protesters:
In November last year, Imphal erupted after the bodies of six Meitie hostages—including an infant—were found in a river near the Assam-Manipur border. The shocking discovery ignited widespread anger, with Meitie mobs attempting to storm the residences of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, several ministers, and MLAs. Security forces resorted to tear gas shelling in an attempt to control the situation.
The protests took a violent turn in Imphal, where agitators vandalized and set fire to properties belonging to BJP MLA R.K. Imo—Chief Minister Singh’s son-in-law—as well as several other BJP leaders. Residences of ministers Sapam Ranjan, L. Susindro Singh, and Y. Khemchand were also attacked, with mobs setting vehicles ablaze and ransacking properties. Protesters, enraged by the government’s perceived inaction, demanded immediate justice and accountability. The office of a local newspaper owned by Singh was also vandalized.
Fully armed Meitei terrorist & Central Security Forces coming face to face near Manipur Chief Minister Bungalow at Imphal last night. @AmitShah @narendramodi @NELiveTV @IndiaTodayNE pic.twitter.com/VkyzW30zE0
— H S Benjamin Mate (@BenjaminMate1) November 2, 2023
In response to the escalating violence, the government imposed indefinite curfews in five districts, including Imphal East and West, and suspended internet services to prevent the spread of inflammatory content. But there was no crackdown on the protestors. This exposes the stark contrast in the handling of Meitei protesters compared to demonstrations by other communities in Manipur, particularly the Kuki-Zo people, whose protests have often been met with severe crackdowns and mass arrests.
Arambai Tenggol; Who dares to confront them?
When Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla held a meeting with leaders of the Meitei organization Arambai Tenggol, notably Korounganba Khuman and Robin Mangang, at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal, it sent shockwaves through the state.
After all, Korounganba Khuman, the chief of Arambai Tenggol, is currently under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in attacks on police forces and the looting of arms in Manipur. The NIA has registered multiple cases against him, reflecting serious concerns about lawlessness and terrorism in the region.
The meeting between the Governor and Arambai Tenggol leaders drew sharp criticism from various quarters. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR) condemned the interaction, labeling Arambai Tenggol as an “armed extremist group responsible for mass violence, ethnic persecution, and destabilization in Manipur.” KOHUR expressed that engaging with such individuals undermines justice and insults those who have suffered due to the group’s actions.
On January 24, 2024, Arambai Tenggol summoned all elected Meitei legislators, including ministers, to a meeting at Kangla Fort in Imphal. The gathering was convened under duress, with threats made against those who failed to attend. Reports indicate that some legislators, including the state president of the Indian National Congress, K. Meghachandra, were assaulted during the meeting. This incident was widely condemned as a submission of governmental authority to an armed militant group.
Arambai leader is attacking central forces and kuki villages with a bullet proof vehicle looted form police station from last 20 months with looted Insas LMG form police armoury. pic.twitter.com/8S3Ror4VJB
— Maj Digvijay Singh Rawat, KC (Retd) (@Dig_raw21) February 6, 2025
Still, a team from the Union Home Ministry engaged in discussions with Arambai Tenggol leaders at the residence of the titular king, Leishemba Sanajaoba, under the “royal flag.” The group’s demands included the implementation of a National Register of Citizens for Manipur and the abrogation of Suspension of Operations agreements with Kuki militant groups.
Notably, despite the organization’s involvement in violent activities, recently when 28 cadres Arambai Tenggol cadres, were arrested recently, all hell broke out, and they were released shortly thereafter. This leniency contrasts sharply with the treatment of cadres from other private militias. Such disparities in law enforcement responses have exacerbated ethnic tensions and raised concerns about impartiality in the administration of justice in Manipur.
But Kukis voice throttled:
While Governor AK Bhalla entertained the notorious Arambai Tenggol leaders at Raj Bhavan, allowing them to openly address a press interaction , Seilen Haokip, spokesperson for the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), was barred from attending a panel discussion at the Delhi University Literature Festiva on February 23l. Despite the KNO’s formal peace agreement with the central government under the Suspension of Operations (SoO), Haokip was informed just 15 minutes before the event that his participation had been canceled .
The exclusion of Haokip sparked outrage among the Kuki-Zo community and beyond, raising serious questions about the selective treatment of different groups in Manipur’s ongoing crisis. The Kuki Students’ Organisation, Delhi & NCR, strongly condemned the decision, calling it an attack on free speech and a glaring instance of institutional bias.
The differential treatment of these two groups highlights the deepening divide and worsening bias in Manipur’s handling of the ethnic crisis. It raises urgent questions about whether the government is genuinely interested in fostering peace or merely catering to selective narratives while silencing others.
UNLF impunity:
In the early hours of February 11, 2025, senior journalist and human rights defender Yambem Laba was forcibly abducted at gunpoint from his residence in Imphal by a group of armed individuals, reportedly members of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a militant organization active in Manipur.
Following his abduction, Laba was coerced into issuing a public apology to both the militant group and the people of Manipur. Despite the gravity of this incident, weeks have passed without any arrests or significant progress in the investigation. Concerns have been raised regarding the UNLF’s alleged connections with influential figures in the region, potentially hindering law enforcement efforts and contributing to the lack of accountability in this case.
Manipur: Former Manipur State Human Rights Commission Member & Senior Journalist Yambem Laba Arrested by Manipur Police.
Yambem Laba once posed this question: who should be saved—Biren or Manipur? He emphasized that Biren is not Manipur, and Manipur is not Biren. Anyone who… pic.twitter.com/M42wx3vhMJ— Ravinder Kapur. (@RavinderKapur2) October 8, 2024
The absence of arrests and the perceived inaction by authorities have drawn criticism from various quarters, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists and human rights defenders in Manipur. The situation underscores the pressing need for effective measures to protect individuals who risk their lives to uphold freedom of expression and human rights in conflict-prone areas.
While Governor AK Bhalla entertained the notorious Arambai Tenggol leaders at Raj Bhavan, allowing them to openly address a press interaction , Seilen Haokip, spokesperson for the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), was barred from attending a panel discussion at the Delhi University Literature Festiva on February 23l. Despite the KNO’s formal peace agreement with the central government under the Suspension of Operations (SoO), Haokip was informed just 15 minutes before the event that his participation had been canceled .
The exclusion of Haokip sparked outrage among the Kuki-Zo community and beyond, raising serious questions about the selective treatment of different groups in Manipur’s ongoing crisis. The Kuki Students’ Organisation, Delhi & NCR, strongly condemned the decision, calling it an attack on free speech and a glaring instance of institutional bias.
The differential treatment of these two groups highlights the deepening divide and worsening bias in Manipur’s handling of the ethnic crisis. It raises urgent questions about whether the government is genuinely interested in fostering peace or merely catering to selective narratives while silencing others.
