Kuki-Zo Women Demand Justice and Protection Following the Grisly Killing of Mother in Jiribam

In a fervent outcry for justice, Kuki-Zo women in Sadar Hills held a powerful sit-in protest this afternoon in Gamgiphai, condemning the brutal killing of Zosangkim Hmar, a mother of three, in Zairawn village, Jiribam. The act, allegedly committed by armed Meitei militants, has shocked the Kuki-Zo community and intensified calls for immediate security and autonomy for the minority group.

With voices raised and banners held high, the protesters demanded accountability and protection, calling for a Union Territory with Legislature to safeguard their rights. A moment of silence was observed in honor of Zosangkim, whom the community remembers as a martyr, marking the gravity of what many describe as an escalation in violence against the minority Kuki-Zo population.

The attack, documented in videos that have since gone viral, reportedly involved Zosangkim being physically assaulted and burned alive, a crime that Ng. Lun Kipgen denounced as evidence of a "Meitei chauvinistic mindset." Kipgen further described the attack as “an egregious human rights violation” and called for both national and international condemnation. "This horrifying act only reaffirms our need for a separate administration," he stated. "Our community cannot live in fear, subjected to unspeakable atrocities without the protection we deserve."

The Committee on Tribal Unity has raised concerns over whether such incidents will ever be fully acknowledged by national media or addressed by Delhi’s corridors of power. Leaders emphasized that without structural protections, the Kuki-Zo community remains vulnerable to continued violence.

The Committee on Tribal Unity issued a strong warning that the Kuki-Zo community would take preemptive measures against any further brutal attacks or killings on their land by valley-based militants. “We are ready to defend and safeguard our people,” said a committee spokesperson, emphasizing that the community would not tolerate further threats to their safety.

With the nation’s attention demanded, Kuki-Zo leaders are urging swift action from the central government, insisting that recognition of their Union Territory rights is the only viable path to ending what they see as unchecked brutality and ensuring lasting peace and dignity for their people.