03/05/2026
TONE TV News, Manipur: Three years have passed since the Manipur conflict, and Kuki groups are augmenting demands for political separation. On Sunday, May 4, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) marked the third anniversary of the Manipur conflict as âSeparation Dayâ and reemphasized its demand for a Union Territory. The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) marked the third anniversary of the Manipur conflict as âSeparation Dayâ and reemphasized its demand for a Union Territory on Sunday, May 4. In a statement issued on the occasion, the apex Kuki body stated that the three years since the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023, had been marked by âuntold suffering,â alleging discrimination, institutional bias, and selective enforcement of law by the state government. The organization stated that recent developments, including the arrest of social leader Okthokhang Baite, reflected what it described as âarbitrary action based on questionable inputs,â adding that such measures had further deepened mistrust while perpetrators of serious violence continued to evade accountability. Highlighting the humanitarian impact of the conflict, KIM stated that thousands of Kuki-Zo people continued to suffer from trauma, displacement, and loss of livelihood. It stated that the prolonged crisis had severely affected the communityâs social, economic, and psychological well-being.
âThe present arrangement is neither sustainable nor just,â the organisation said, asserting that the community could no longer continue under conditions that âdeny dignity, justice and constitutional safeguardsâ.
Calling upon the Government of India to recognise what it termed the âground realitiesâ, KIM urged immediate and accountable measures toward a âjust and equitable solutionâ, while renewing its long-standing demand for a separate administrative arrangement.
The organisation also appealed for unity among Kuki-Zo communities and urged people to remain committed to their pursuit of justice while remembering those killed during the violence.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) issued a separate statement sharply criticising the authorities and alleging that âKuki-Zo lives remain the cheapest commodities in Indiaâ even three years after the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur.
The rights body has urged a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the events of May 2023, accusing the then government led by N. Biren Singh of presiding over a "systematic ethnic cleansing campaign" allegedly carried out in coordination with armed groups. KOHUR claims that despite documented allegations of killings, sexual violence, and arson, there have been "no arrests and zero prosecutions" in several major cases, describing the situation as a "complete collapse of the rule of law". The organisation notes that the attack on BJP MLA Vungzagin Vaite during the violence demonstrates that even elected representatives were not spared, raising concerns over public safety and accountability. KOHUR further alleges that the looting of thousands of weapons from state armouries and subsequent attacks on Kuki-Zo villages reflect a "pattern enabled or ignored by elements within the state apparatus". The organisation has made several demands, including a time-bound probe under Supreme Court supervision, immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved in major attacks, public disclosure of forensic and digital evidence, and strict legal action against all identified perpetrators. KOHUR also seeks the banning of armed groups allegedly linked to the violence and calls for comprehensive rehabilitation and reparations for displaced persons continuing to live in relief camps. "The victims remain stateless in their own country, while perpetrators walk free," the organisation states, adding that it will continue to pursue accountability "in every court and forum".
