Kuki-Zo Student Bodies Declare Expanded Boycott of CRPF

In response to the recent tragic incident in Jiribam district, where 10 village volunteers were allegedly killed by personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), various student organizations held an emergency joint meeting today. The meeting, chaired by Sasang Vaiphei, President of the Kuki Students Organisation – General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ), was convened to discuss the next course of action following the brutal killings and to finalize the ongoing boycott movement against the CRPF.

The meeting, which took place at the KSO-GHQ office at the KIM Secretariat, included representatives from multiple student bodies, with George Tuilor, President of the Hmar Students Association – General Headquarters (HSA-GHQ), offering the opening prayer. The gathering addressed the escalating tension after the tragic events in Jiribam and deliberated on a collective response to the CRPF's actions.

In light of the widespread condemnation of the CRPF’s actions in Jiribam, the meeting resolved to significantly escalate the ongoing non-cooperation movement against the paramilitary force. The boycott, which aims to sever all forms of interaction with the CRPF, was expanded with the following key measures:

Non-Violent Resistance: The boycott will remain purely non-violent but will involve strict prohibitions on any form of contact with CRPF personnel. Individuals found engaging with the CRPF will face strong action by the student bodies.

Restricting CRPF Operations: The meeting decided to block the CRPF from carrying out normal activities, including frisking, patrolling, and other routine duties in the region. Steps will also be taken to restrict essential supplies, including water, food, and electricity, to CRPF camps and personnel in the area.

Increased Pressure: As part of the expanded non-cooperation, the student bodies will work to ensure that CRPF units cannot function properly in the district. The bodies also discussed further intensifying their actions depending on the CRPF’s response to the boycott.

Collaborative Efforts: The student groups plan to collaborate with other organizations, local stakeholders, and community leaders to amplify the effectiveness of the non-cooperation movement and to ensure widespread support.

Public Declaration: A town-wide tour was conducted later today, alongside media representatives, openly declaring the expanded boycott measures and inform the public about the rationale behind the non-cooperation. A press conference and media briefing will follow to further explain the student bodies’ stance against the CRPF’s actions and the tragic deaths of the 10 volunteers.

The second major agenda of the meeting was to discuss the appropriate steps to honor the 10 martyrs who were killed during the CRPF operation in Jiribam. The meeting adopted the following resolutions:

FIR Registration: The student bodies called for an immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in relation to the deaths of the 10 volunteers, pushing for a formal investigation into the incident.

Engagement with Victims’ Families: The President of the HSA-GHQ, George Tuilor, was tasked with contacting the families of the deceased to extend condolences and to offer support during this difficult time.

Joint Appeal for Endorsement: The student bodies decided to issue a joint appeal to all Inpis and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to acknowledge the boycott and endorse the non-cooperation movement. The aim is to build a united front and increase the pressure on the authorities to take accountability for the incident.

The joint meeting concluded with a strong resolution to stand in solidarity with the families of the martyrs and to continue the fight for justice in a peaceful but firm manner. The students made it clear that they would not rest until the CRPF officers responsible for the killings are held accountable.

This declaration of non-cooperation and the call for justice for the 10 martyrs signals an intensification of student-led resistance against security forces in the region and reflects growing frustration over the ongoing violence and mistreatment by the CRPF. The outcome of today’s meeting has set the stage for further public mobilization and collective action against the CRPF's presence in the region.