The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) on Thursday expressed concern over what it described as selective security operations, unequal treatment of victims, and the continuing humanitarian challenges faced by Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur.
In an interaction with mediapersons, the council called on the Government of India, the Government of Manipur, and security agencies to ensure equal justice, impartial investigations, and greater protection for affected villages.
The council unequivocally condemned the killing of six Naga hostages, describing the incident as tragic and unacceptable. The council leaders said the killings were neither authorised nor approved by any Kuki-Zo political or community leadership and demanded that those responsible be identified and brought to justice through a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation.
At the same time, the KZC alleged that the killings of 14 Kuki-Zo civilians, including three pastors, since March 11, 2026, had not received the same level of attention and investigative focus from authorities. The council further alleged that more than 45 houses in eight Kuki-Zo villages had been burnt in attacks attributed to suspected NSCN-IM and ZUF-K militants.
According to the council, following the abduction of seven Kuki-Zo individuals on March 10, Kuki-Zo groups released 21 Naga hostages as a gesture of goodwill. The KZC also welcomed the recent release of 14 Kuki-Zo hostages by the United Naga Council, saying both communities had demonstrated restraint during critical moments.
The council stressed that justice should be applied equally to all victims irrespective of ethnicity or community and warned that selective investigation and selective outrage could deepen mistrust and hinder reconciliation efforts.
The KZC also alleged that innocent Kuki-Zo villagers have faced harassment, intimidation, and fear during search and cordon operations conducted by security forces. It expressed concern over reports that personnel from agencies including the CRPF, CoBRA, and other paramilitary units carried out operations in areas such as Ebenezer Camp and Leilon Vaiphei without prior coordination with Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups or village authorities.
The council claimed that following the killing of the six Naga hostages, security operations had largely focused on Kuki-Zo areas, while there had been limited visible action against alleged Naga militant groups despite repeated attacks on Kuki-Zo civilians and villages since March this year.
The KZC further raised concerns over what it described as inadequate protection of Kuki-Zo villages in Kangpokpi district. It questioned the role of Kangpokpi Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta, alleging that he was not stationed in the district despite the prevailing security situation. According to the council, the reported absence of the district’s senior-most police officer had raised concerns regarding accountability and public confidence.
The council also highlighted what it termed humanitarian concerns arising from an attack on June 15 at Leilon Munlui village in Kangpokpi district. It alleged that three Kuki-Zo youths aged between 18 and 20 were seriously injured in an attack by suspected NSCN-IM and ZUF-K militants.
One of the injured, identified as Paogoulal Chongloi, a member of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, reportedly requires advanced medical treatment due to the severity of his injuries. The council stated that the injured youths were initially admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, but were later transferred to Churachandpur District Hospital after protests allegedly arose within the hospital premises against their treatment.
According to the KZC, the incident has raised questions regarding equal access to healthcare and the ability of Kuki-Zo citizens to safely access treatment in public institutions.
The council also drew attention to continuing economic hardships faced by Kuki-Zo residents in Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, and Kamjong districts. It alleged that villages including Chassad and Aishi in Kamjong district had been prevented from purchasing essential commodities by members of the Tangkhul Naga community.
Additionally, the council claimed that supplies of food and other essential items to the Kotlen and Leilon areas of Kangpokpi district had been cut off, worsening hardships for residents. It further alleged that restrictions on movement through Naga-dominated areas of Senapati and Namdilong had disrupted the transportation of food, medicines, fuel, and other necessities.
The KZC said it was compelled to question why authorities had not acted to restore free movement along these routes, noting that security forces had acted swiftly in previous instances when highway blockades were organised by Kuki-Zo groups.
Among its key demands, the council called for impartial investigations into all incidents of violence, including the killing of six Naga hostages, the deaths of 14 Kuki-Zo civilians, and the burning of Kuki-Zo villages. It also urged authorities to take action against militant groups allegedly involved in attacks on civilians, including NSCN-IM and ZUF-K, and to investigate locations suspected of harbouring perpetrators.
The council further demanded an end to what it described as selective security operations, the reopening of blocked routes, unhindered access to healthcare and essential supplies, and greater accountability within the administrative and security apparatus.
The KZC stated that the Kuki-Zo community had faced repeated attacks over the past three years, resulting in deaths, displacement, and destruction of property. The council said these experiences had strengthened its demand for a Separate Administration in the form of a Union Territory with Legislature, which it described as a necessity arising from continued insecurity and suffering.