Latest Brutal Attack on Kuki-Zo Village Strongly Necessitates Urgent Need for Separate Administration

Taliban-like atrocities continue unabated against the Kuki-Zo people, while the Government of India remains in a deep slumber, hesitating to disarm the Arambai Tenggol and other Meitei militants, who are the main perpetrators of crimes against humanity.

In a recent act of brutal violence, state-supported Meitei militants, along with the Arambai Tenggol, launched a relentless attack on the peaceful Kuki-Zo village of Zairawn in Jiribam district, claiming the life of a woman and burning down at least 16 houses.

The violent incident took place on November 7, 2024, around 9:00 PM, when Meitei terrorists captured an unarmed woman named Mrs. Zosangkim Hmar (31), a mother of three and wife of Mr. Ngurthansang Hmar. In a display of unimaginable cruelty, they shot her in the leg, leaving her bleeding, and then set her on fire, reducing her to ashes.

This tragedy is part of an ongoing, state-orchestrated ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo people, which has escalated since May 2023, under the leadership of the Meiteis’ Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh. Since then, countless innocent Kuki-Zo women have suffered unspeakable atrocities, including rape and murder, at the hands of extremist Meitei groups such as Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and proscribed Valley-based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs), often in collusion with state police.

Rather than sparing a defenseless woman, these militants repeated their past savagery, where victims were too mutilated to be buried properly — burnt alive beyond recognition.

This horrific act shatters any illusion of peace and serves as a grim reminder to the Kuki-Zo people of the Meiteis’ ultimate goal: to annihilate them and seize their lands.

A Big Question to Central Security Forces:

These relentless attacks, coupled with the barbaric murder of a Kuki-Zo woman and the subsequent destruction of 16 homes, compel the tribal communities to question the role of central security forces, who fail to protect innocent civilians despite their substantial presence. The failure to act against the perpetrators raises suspicions that security personnel may be colluding with them. Are they aligned with the Meitei terrorists?

It is appalling that Meitei militants, along with cadres from Arambai Tenggol, were able to freely assault Zairawn Village in Jiribam despite heavy security presence. This tacit support by government machinery, allowing unhindered movement of militants through security checkpoints en route to Zairawn, is equally condemnable.

If the central government and its security establishments continue to neglect the protection of innocent citizens and fail to curb the Meitei militants, the Kuki-Zo people may be forced to take defensive action to safeguard their existence in their ancestral land.

Are the Buffer Zones a False Sense of Security?

Despite the presence of buffer zones intended to separate the warring communities and prevent clashes, Meitei militants continue to infiltrate and attack Kuki villages, spreading violence, death, and fear. Guarded by Central Security Forces, these buffer zones have failed to stop militant incursions, leading to devastating consequences for the Kuki people.

The recent occupation of K. Patjang village in Kangpokpi District by heavily armed members of the Meitei Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-PWG) is clear evidence that these buffer zones offer only a false sense of security for the Kuki-Zo people.

This militant group, equipped with advanced weaponry, has brazenly violated buffer zones, intruding deep into Kuki-Zo territories and intensifying tensions in already vulnerable areas. Their presence disrupts peace efforts, which are continuously undermined by the inaction and apparent complicity of the Government of India (GoI) and state authorities

Additionally, the unchecked movement of armed Meitei militants through Kuki-Zo territories raises serious concerns. This militarization can only be seen as part of a sinister tactic orchestrated by N. Biren Singh, diverting attention from his role in systematic violence against minority communities. The recently leaked “Manipur Tapes” expose his active involvement in the genocide against the Kuki-Zo people.

Urgent Need for a Kuki-Zo Political Solution:

The ongoing persecution of the Kuki-Zo people is deeply alarming, highlighting the critical need to address their lack of security. Regrettably, the Government of India continues to delay political dialogue with the Kuki-Zo people. This reluctance to take decisive action has emboldened radicalized Meitei groups, leaving minority communities vulnerable.

To achieve lasting peace, the government must act against Meitei terrorists without further delay, ending its appeasement of those who pose a threat to national security.

It is imperative that the Government of India recognizes the urgency of establishing a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people to ensure their safety and security.