Guwahati: The Kuki Zo Women’s Forum Delhi and NCR (KZWFD) has sought the immediate intervention of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian over what it described as the killing of Kuki-Zo women and unarmed civilians in Manipur by ceasefire-bound Naga factional groups.
In a memorandum to the NHRC chairperson, KZWFD convenor Chong Haokip, co-convenor Lamneilhing Haokip and media in-charge Kim Haokip sought an impartial Central investigation into the killings and comprehensive measures for protection of human rights.
“We, the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum, Delhi & NCR (KZWFD), submit this complaint with the gravest urgency to draw the Commission’s immediate intervention under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, regarding the complete collapse of state governance and gross human rights violations in Manipur,” they said.
The forum alleged that the ethnic conflict that began on 3 May 2023 had entered “a lethal new phase”, with Kuki-Zo villages in border regions and Naga-majority districts being targeted by Manipuri Naga factional armed groups, including NSCN-IM and its proxy ZUF-K.
“Unarmed civilians, mothers, nurses, and pregnant women are being hunted in their homes, fields, and village paths,” the memorandum said.
According to community records cited by the forum, 27 Kuki-Zo civilians have been killed so far, including eight women. The forum said two of the women were pregnant and that the killings resulted in the deaths of two unborn infants. It also said young children had been wounded and orphaned.
The eight women identified by the forum are Tinmary Haokip (7 months pregnant), Tingneichin Lhouvum, Hoineineng Lhoujem, Lhingzangai Singsit, Julie Singson (2 months pregnant), Phalneichong Sitlhou (76), and Kimjalhing Singson (28, nurse). The forum alleged that they were executed in their homes and agricultural fields by Naga Factional Armed Groups (NSCN-IM & ZUF-K) between June and September 2026.
The forum also said the attacks resulted in the deaths of two unborn infants carried by Haokip and Singson. It said young Henminsang was wounded in a gunshot incident and that multiple surviving children had been orphaned.
It sought urgent state protection for the affected children under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
Healthcare access
The memorandum also raised concerns over access to emergency healthcare in Kuki-Zo settlements in Tamenglong, Noney, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and adjoining areas.
The forum said ongoing blockades and geographic isolation had deprived vulnerable settlements of basic healthcare. It alleged that several villages lacked functional medical centres, trauma units and life-saving equipment.
It further alleged that casualties, including pregnant women, injured children such as Henminsang Singsit and gunshot victims, were being prevented from accessing major state medical facilities in Imphal, including RIMS and JNIMS.
According to the forum, patients were forced to undertake multi-hour journeys to hospitals in neighbouring states such as Assam and some succumbed to treatable injuries during transit.
The forum described the failure to ensure safe transit corridors for emergency medical transport and deploy mobile medical services as a violation of the constitutional Right to Life and Health under Article 21.
It cited Supreme Court rulings, including Pt. Parmanand Katara v. Union of India (1989) and Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity v. State of West Bengal (1996), in support of its contention that the State has an obligation to provide immediate and non-discriminatory emergency medical treatment.
Forum seeks central probe, security measures
The KZWFD urged the NHRC to take suo motu cognisance of its complaint and direct the registration of separate cases for each of the eight female homicides and the 27 civilian deaths cited in the memorandum.
It also sought an immediate, time-bound investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the killings.
The forum asked the NHRC to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of Manipur and DGP Manipur to submit Action Taken Reports (ATRs) within seven days on FIRs, arrests and security measures deployed.
It further sought the establishment of static security posts by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in vulnerable border Kuki-Zo villages. It also urged state and Central forces to halt what it described as selective disarming drives and defensive bunker demolitions in vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages while factional armed groups remained armed.
The forum also sought mobile medical units, emergency trauma stations and safe transit corridors for isolated Kuki-Zo villages.
For orphaned Kuki-Zo children and surviving dependants, it sought immediate Central compensation, medical rehabilitation and long-term protection under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
Appeal for Union executive action
The forum also requested the NHRC to forward representations to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in view of what it described as the continuing breakdown of state protection.
It sought a review of the active status and alleged ground-rule violations of Manipur Naga insurgent groups operating in areas it said were not permitted under the ceasefire protocols.
The forum also sought consideration of constitutional and administrative measures, including President’s Rule under Article 356 and a Union Territory with Legislature under Article 239A, which it described as necessary steps to restore peace, physical security and equal administrative protection for the Kuki-Zo community.
The memorandum said the alleged killings and armed incursions into Kuki-Zo civilian habitats required urgent statutory accountability and also referred to Article 21 of the Constitution, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security) and the protection guarantees reaffirmed under the 18th BRICS Summit Declaration (New Delhi, 12 September 2026).