Kuki Inpi Accuses Manipur Police of Ethnic Bias

Imphal: Kuki Inpi Manipur leveled accusations of ethnic bias against the Manipur Police on November 13. The group claims officers intentionally softened the language used to report the death of a Kuki woman while labeling other suspects as Kuki armed miscreants. This divide in reporting follows two shooting incidents that occurred on November 12.

Kimmeneing Chongloi, 40, was harvesting paddy when someone shot her dead. The police statement on her death merely called it a firing incident. They did not name any attackers or describe the shooters. Minutes later, the department released another statement regarding a Tangkhul Naga civilian who suffered a bullet wound. This report explicitly blamed suspected Kuki armed miscreants for the violence.

The Kuki Inpi slammed the police for this inconsistency. They questioned if the victim had somehow traded gunfire using a sickle. The group further demanded to know the evidence used to link the second shooting to Kukis or the Lungter Hills. They stated, "This is not the first time Manipur Police has done this."

The organization argues the police have engaged in ethnic profiling since May 3, 2023. They claim the force frames Kukis as aggressors while ignoring violence against the tribe. This pattern violates the equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution, according to the group. They are now demanding an internal inquiry to find who drafted and approved the conflicting reports.

Kuki Inpi gave the force 72 hours to explain the bias and start disciplinary action. If the Director General of Police fails to provide a public clarification, the organization threatened to stop all cooperation with law enforcement in Kuki territories.