A coalition of Kuki-Zo civil society organizations in Manipur has strongly condemned the arrest of Thangminlen Mate, spokesperson of the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), calling the action politically motivated and unjustified. Mate was apprehended on May 18 from Ngoupa Village in Aizawl, Mizoram, in connection with the January 17, 2024, attack on an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) post in Moreh.
Leading the outcry, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), along with allied groups including the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO), and Kuki Chiefs’ Association, labeled the arrest a violation of constitutional rights and an attempt to silence democratic voices. “Mate has no links to any unlawful outfit. He has consistently championed peace and community rights,” said KIM’s publicity secretary, Janghaolun Haokip.
KWOHR’s general secretary Kimneihoi Lhungdim criticized what she termed “selective law enforcement,” pointing to the lack of comparable arrests in incidents involving the Meitei community. The Moreh Hill Tribal Council and other local bodies echoed similar concerns, alleging that the charges were speculative and not backed by credible evidence.The organizations have jointly demanded Mate’s immediate release and warned that continued suppression of Kuki-Zo leaders under unverified allegations threatens the democratic fabric of the state.
