Guwahati: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has strongly condemned the brutal murder of two Kuki civilians and the violent assault of a third in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, allegedly by suspected cadres of the NSCN-IM.
Following an emergency cabinet meeting, the apex Kuki body issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Tangkhul Naga Long – Working Committee (TNL-WC) to hand over the perpetrators to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to a press statement issued by KIM, the incident occurred on the morning of March 11. Three Kuki civilians from Thawai Kuki Village were reportedly apprehended by suspected NSCN-IM cadres.
The deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Thenkhogin Baite and 35-year-old Thangboimang Lunkim, an internally displaced person (IDP) who had settled in the village. A third victim, 29-year-old Letginthang Haokip, survived the ordeal but was brutally assaulted and shot in the leg.
The KIM termed the attack a “gross violation” of the existing non-aggression agreement between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities, which was established under the aegis of the Peace Working Committee and the TNL-WC. The organization stated that the “cold-blooded murder” represents a grave betrayal of the Kuki community’s trust and its consistent efforts to maintain peace and restraint in the region.
In its resolution, the KIM demanded that the TNL-WC and the MHA produce the perpetrators before the Kuki Inpi and hand them over to the NIA within 48 hours.
The apex body warned of severe repercussions if the authorities fail to act swiftly. “Failure on the part of the relevant authorities to take prompt and decisive action will inevitably lead to further escalation of tensions, and any such consequences shall rest solely with the Tangkhul Naga Long – Working Committee and the Ministry of Home Affairs,” the statement read.
Calling for immediate justice, the KIM concluded that the lives of innocent civilians must not be allowed to become “casualties of negligence, indifference, or hidden agendas.”