Calling for an impartial investigation and stronger security in Manipur’s hill districts, COTU accused the state and Central governments of failing to protect vulnerable civilians.
BY PC Bureau
July 11: The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has strongly condemned the killing of Haolal Singsit, a Kuki-Zo farmer from Govajang village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, describing the incident as part of what it alleged is an escalating campaign of targeted violence against the Kuki-Zo community.
In a statement issued on Saturday, COTU said Singsit was shot dead while working on his farmland in the T. Waichong Sub-Division. The organisation alleged that the attack was carried out by armed cadres of the NSCN (IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front-Kamson (ZUF-K). There has been no official confirmation of these allegations, and neither group has responded to the claims.
According to COTU, the latest killing brings the number of Kuki-Zo civilians allegedly killed by Naga militant groups to 15 in recent months. The organisation further claimed that more than 15 Kuki-Zo villages have been attacked or destroyed during the same period. These figures have not been independently verified by government authorities.
The organisation also alleged that the violence has intensified during a blockade imposed by Naga organisations over the past two months. COTU claimed the blockade, originally called in connection with the deaths of six members of the Naga community, had evolved into what it described as a broader campaign of intimidation and violence against Kuki-Zo civilians.
“The government has turned a blind eye to the activities of armed Naga groups that continue to undermine constitutional governance,” the statement said, accusing both the Government of India and the Manipur government of failing to protect civilians and maintain law and order in the hill districts.
READ: Fresh Violence in Manipur Hills: Kuki Farmer Gunned Down
COTU urged the Centre and the state government to immediately restore normal movement along national highways, end the blockade, strengthen security in vulnerable villages, and ensure that those responsible for attacks on civilians are identified and prosecuted.
The organisation warned that continued inaction could further destabilise the already volatile region. While reiterating that the Kuki-Zo community remains committed to peace, COTU cautioned that “our commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness” and appealed for urgent intervention to prevent further bloodshed.
The statement comes amid continuing tensions in Manipur’s hill districts, where disputes involving Kuki-Zo and Naga communities have intensified alongside the broader ethnic conflict that has affected the state since 2023. Several incidents of violence have been reported in recent weeks, although responsibility for many of the attacks remains under investigation.
