The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has urged the Government of India to ensure equal justice, humanitarian intervention and an expedited political solution in Manipur, alleging continued violence, displacement and discrimination against the Kuki-Zo community amid the state’s prolonged ethnic conflict.
In a press statement issued on July 13, the council claimed that the Kuki-Zo people have suffered repeated attacks, loss of lives, destruction of homes and denial of essential services for more than three years. It alleged that, besides the conflict involving the Meitei community, Kuki-Zo villages have also come under attacks by suspected armed Naga groups, resulting in widespread humanitarian distress.
The organisation claimed that since March 2026, at least 15 Kuki-Zo civilians have been killed and around 55 houses in 14 villages have been set on fire. It alleged that villages including Leikot, Nungthut and Khongmol in Noney district were recently attacked, forcing residents to flee into nearby forests.
The council also condemned the killing of six Naga hostages, stating that the incident was unacceptable and not authorised by any Kuki-Zo political or community leadership. At the same time, it alleged that the deaths of 14 Kuki-Zo civilians, including three pastors, had not received the same level of official attention or investigation. It called for impartial investigations into all incidents of violence, irrespective of the victims’ identity.
Expressing concern over healthcare access, the KZC alleged that three injured Kuki-Zo youths were forced to leave the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal after protests reportedly erupted against their treatment. The organisation said the incident reflected the insecurity faced by the community and called for unhindered access to medical care for all citizens.
The council further alleged that Kuki-Zo-inhabited areas continue to face restrictions in the movement of food, medicines, fuel and other essential commodities due to blockades on key transport routes. It claimed that the disruptions have led to severe shortages and soaring prices of essential items in affected districts.
Reiterating its long-standing demand, the Kuki-Zo Council said the existing administrative arrangement had failed to ensure the safety and rights of the community. It urged the Centre to initiate meaningful political dialogue and consider its demand for a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory with a legislature as a permanent solution to the crisis.
The organisation appealed to the Government of India to conduct impartial investigations into all incidents of violence, ensure uninterrupted healthcare and supply of essential commodities, strengthen security in vulnerable areas and expedite political dialogue aimed at achieving lasting peace and justice.
