In a statement issued on November 4, the UKNA accused the Manipur government and its allies of waging a “war of ethnic cleansing” against the Kuki-Zo people, forcing them into armed defense.
BY PC Bureau
NOVEMBER 4: The United Kuki National Army (UKNA) has strongly condemned what it described as a “cowardly act” by individuals acting “in connivance with security forces” that led to the killing of four of its cadres at Khanpi in Churachandpur district on Monday.
In a statement issued by its Department of Home Affairs, the UKNA said the cadres were “killed while they were asleep,” calling the incident an “act of murder” and part of a wider pattern of atrocities committed against the Kuki-Zo people.
“The Meitei people had forced us to leave their territory. Many were killed, butchered, tortured, raped, lynched and naked paraded,” the statement said, recalling the violence that followed the ethnic conflict in May 2023. It alleged that the state government under former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had carried out “an ethnic cleansing drive” that compelled the Kuki-Zo to take up arms in defense of their land and people.
While reiterating that the UKNA is “neither a threat to society nor against the Indian Army,” the outfit reaffirmed that it will “surrender once the demand for Separate Administration is fulfilled.” The group said it continues to stand by its demand for a Union Territory (UT) status for Kuki-Zo areas, separate from the Manipur state government’s control.
READ: Manipur: Kuki-Zo Groups Call Killings of Four Tribal Youth ‘Cold-Blooded Murder’
The statement also urged security forces “not to be misled by a few who camouflage themselves as leaders of the people while usurping power and money.” It appealed to the Indian Army to uphold its commitment to the ongoing peace talks and respect the rights of the Kuki-Zo under the Indian Constitution.
The UKNA called on the Centre to ensure justice and protection for the Kuki-Zo community, warning that continued attacks risk undermining trust in the peace process. “We demand and fight for our rights under the Indian Constitution, respecting the Centre talks and Indian Army,” the statement concluded.
