Manipur Cabinet Resolution Sparks Outcry Over Alleged Genocide of Kuki-Zo Community

The recent cabinet resolution passed by the ruling administration in Manipur has drawn sharp criticism from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), which has accused the state government of being complicit in the ongoing ethnic persecution and what it calls the “mass genocide” of the Kuki-Zo community.

In a strongly worded statement, CoTU alleged that Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is the "mastermind" behind the violence, describing it as a well-orchestrated political charade. The Committee pointed to an audio recording in which the Chief Minister reportedly admitted to his involvement in the atrocities. The recording has been accepted by the Supreme Court of India for further investigation earlier this month, marking a critical turning point in the ongoing conflict.

The statement also linked the Supreme Court’s decision to investigate the recording with a recent gruesome crime—the rape, murder, and burning of Mrs. Zosangkim Hmar in Zairawn, Jiribam. CoTU alleged that the incident was orchestrated to divert public attention from the investigation. They further criticized the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for allegedly killing 11 Kuki-Zo volunteers under the pretext of an ambush, accusing security forces of siding with the majority Meitei community.

The cabinet resolution adopted on November 19, 2024, has intensified tensions. Passed in the absence of 10 Kuki-Zo legislators, the resolution includes contentious measures such as the withdrawal of six police stations from areas under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the abrogation of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki-Zo underground groups, and the removal of Assam Rifles personnel from buffer zones in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. CoTU denounced these actions as deliberate moves to undermine the rights of minorities and perpetuate majoritarian dominance.

“The resolution is a biased attempt to pivot accountability away from the ill-conceived political holocaust against the Kuki-Zo community,” the statement read, accusing the government of trampling on the constitutional rights of minorities.

CoTU also criticized the government’s focus on the death of six individuals from a specific community, calling it a "choreographed political drama" and a dangerous precedent in the ongoing conflict. They demanded that the groups responsible for widespread atrocities—such as Arambai Tenggol and VBIGSs—be declared unlawful organizations. According to the Committee, these groups have been instrumental in the killing of 218 Kuki-Zo individuals, including women and children, some of whom were allegedly gang-raped, decapitated, and burned alive. Victims include a one-month-old baby, Issac, and a seven-year-old boy, Tonsing Hangshing.

In its concluding appeal, CoTU urged the Government of India to intervene politically to address the deepening crisis in Manipur. They called for constitutional safeguards under Article 239A to protect the Kuki-Zo minority and ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.