Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: The Kuki Students Organisation of Delhi and NCR wants the National Investigation Agency to probe the deaths of 26 Kuki-Zo civilians. These killings allegedly occurred across Manipur between March 11 and September 15, 2026. The group held a protest at Jantar Mantar on September 17. They delivered a memorandum to the Prime Minister Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission, and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
The memorandum details 12 specific incidents in Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tamenglong, Noney, Kangpokpi, and Senapati. KSO representatives claimed women and the elderly were among the dead. They also stated attackers targeted homes and farms. These claims remain unverified. The group said, "KSO Delhi and NCR also alleged that security operations in Kuki-Zo areas were unequal." They cited the dismantling of defensive bunkers and the seizure of licensed firearms as evidence of biased enforcement.
The organization submitted seven primary demands to the government. They asked for an NIA probe or a judicial-led Special Investigation Team. They also called for action against unauthorized armed camps and requested permanent Central Armed Police Force outposts in vulnerable villages. Additional demands include humanitarian aid, compensation for victims, and witness protection. They want the Centre to ensure impartial security operations and equal protection for all communities in the region.
Updated at 18th September 2026 at 2:00pm
Beyond the Delhi protests, the situation on the ground has deteriorated. A Kuki civil society committee launched an indefinite counter-blockade on National Highway-202 at Chassad in Kamjong district after a 36-hour ultimatum passed. Women volunteers are currently inspecting vehicles and seizing essential goods, though medical and military traffic remain exempt. This move follows reports of a six-month economic embargo allegedly enforced by elements of the Tangkhul Naga community.
The Kuki-Zo Council has ordered a halt to the burial of community members killed by Naga armed groups. Bodies are to be kept in cold storage as a protest against the violence and lack of state response. This directive follows the death of six people in recent days, including two women killed and farmhouses torched in Tamenglong district on Tuesday. While local groups blame Naga insurgents, police maintain the culprits remain unidentified.
Tensions with the NIA have also spiked. The Kuki-Zo Council has accused the agency of selective operations and targeting innocent Kuki-Zo civilians for questioning while ignoring other communities. They have threatened a full-fledged agitation if the Centre does not address their security and humanitarian concerns by October 10. The group is now demanding the re-imposition of President's Rule, claiming the region was peaceful during the previous stint between February 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the Council is pushing for a formal update on their demand for a separate administration under a Union Territory status.
Updated at 18th September 2026 at 5:49pm
The Zeliangrong Baudi reported fresh violence at Chawangkining, Kaimai, Tollen, Longpi, Khedaghar, and Leisangphai. These incidents include the confirmed killing of four Kuki civilians on September 13 in Tollen and Longpi, alongside reports of Naga homes burned at Khedaghar. The organization warned that shifting from grief to vengeance threatens to spiral into wider community-based punishment.
Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip of the Sadar Hills District Congress Committee joined the chorus for calm on September 18. He urged security forces to guarantee the flow of essential goods and the safe movement of civilians, warning that retaliatory strikes will only entrench the cycle of displacement and fear across Kangpokpi, Senapati, and Tamenglong.
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