Imphal: The Kuki-Zo Council has threatened that it would consider stronger political measures, including asking elected legislators from the Kuki-Zo community to withdraw from the Manipur government if the Centre fails to grant the community a Union Territory with a legislature.
In a statement issued by its publicity wing, the council said a political solution is now essential for the community’s survival, not just a political demand.
It said the community could no longer accept the current situation, citing continued violence involving Meitei and Naga groups and a lack of progress in political talks.
The council accused the state and central governments of discrimination and selective justice. It alleged that authorities acted quickly when Meitei or Naga people were killed but largely ignored the deaths of Kuki-Zo civilians.
The council also questioned recent security operations. It said government forces had seized a Kuki Suspension of Operations (SoO) camp after three Meitei civilians were killed, despite what it described as a lack of evidence linking the camp to the incident.
It also questioned why the NSCN-IM faction continued to operate in Manipur without state intervention, despite restrictions under its ceasefire agreement and allegations that it had carried out violence against Kuki-Zo communities.
The council said more than 250 Kuki-Zo people had been killed and 40,000 displaced from the Imphal Valley since May 2023. It also reported that 32 more civilians had been killed and several villages burned since March 2026, allegedly by the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K).
The council ended its statement by questioning whether the community was being denied its constitutional right to equal protection and justice.