The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has issued a detailed rebuttal to a statement circulated by the Media Cell of the United Naga Council (UNC), disputing historical, constitutional and security-related claims about the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur and calling for an impartial investigation into recent violence. KOHUR said the UNC document offered a selective reading of historical records and recent incidents tied to the ongoing tensions in the state.
KOHUR rejected assertions in the UNC statement that the Kuki-Zo are “foreigners” or recent settlers, arguing that colonial records, census data and historical writings show a long-standing Kuki-Zo presence in the region. The organisation further said the Scheduled Tribe status of various Kuki-Zo groups is constitutionally recognised and legally protected under Indian law.
Responding to allegations about demographic expansion and poppy cultivation, KOHUR described narcotics production as a wider law-and-order problem affecting multiple areas and communities, and warned against assigning criminal activity to a single ethnic group without evidence. The statement urged authorities and the public to avoid collective blame.
KOHUR also defended the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between Kuki armed groups and the government, saying the framework aims to sustain ceasefire arrangements and enable political dialogue within constitutional provisions. The organisation framed the SoO as a mechanism for managing conflict and advancing negotiations.
On recent violence in Manipur, KOHUR said the conflict has impacted multiple communities and alleged that the UNC statement omitted several incidents involving deaths, displacement and attacks on Kuki-Zo civilians. It asked for an impartial probe, preferably under Supreme Court supervision or by agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), into incidents between February and May 2026, specifically citing the killing of three church leaders on May 13 near the Kotlen-Kotzim area.
While expressing condolences to all families affected, KOHUR appealed to community organisations to refrain from inflammatory language, prioritise dialogue and evidence-based discussion, and work toward peaceful resolution. The group said it remains open to engagement with the United Naga Council and other stakeholders in the interest of peace and communal harmony in Manipur.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/kuki-body-issues-rebuttal-to-unc-statement-calls-for-impartial-probe-and-peaceful-dialogue-1394433-2026-05-19?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-05-19 20:20:00
