New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing brouhaha over government formation in Manipur, the Kuki Jo Council (KZC) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) on Wednesday filed a petition under Article 239A of the Indian Constitution. ‘Union territory with legislature’ As his demand for a separate administration has been reiterated again. Kuki-Jo Council Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet has submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah.
The memorandum states – “The Government of India is fully aware that the people of the Kuki-Jo community can neither go back to Imphal nor accept the situation as it was before the conflict. Therefore, we make a humble appeal to the Union Home Minister to take cognizance of these complaints with utmost seriousness. We want the Central Government to use its constitutional rights to intensify political talks with our authorized representatives (KNO and UPF), so that a just and constitutional political solution can be reached at the earliest.”
Thanglet, in a memorandum submitted to the Home Minister, a copy of which is available with ETV Bharat, said that for the last almost three years, the Kuki-Jo people have been suffering immensely due to the caste conflict with the Meitai community.
Thanglet said, “More than 250 innocent Kuki-Jo people have lost their lives. More than 7,000 houses were burnt. 360 places of worship were desecrated or damaged, and more than 40,000 people were forcibly evicted from their homes and properties. The Kuki-Jo population has been completely driven out of the Imphal Valley, leading to complete separation physically, administratively and psychologically between the Kuki-Jo and Meitai people.” It has been clearly seen and recorded that some parts of the state government were involved in or failed to stop these atrocities. Under such circumstances, there is no scope left for the Kuki people to continue under the same administration.”
Opposing the resettlement of Meitai internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the buffer zone areas, Thanglet said, “There are credible reports that Meitai displaced persons have been resettled in Torbung of Churachandpur and Sero area of Sugunu, and similar efforts have been made in the Doilathabi area. All these areas fall within or very close to the buffer zone and Kuki-Jo settlements. Such actions should be taken directly “This is being seen as a provocation, due to which there is a strong possibility of conflict starting again.”
He said that the buffer zone was established specifically to prevent face-off and bloodshed. “Any violation of this system, any weakening of it or selective enforcement of it undermines public confidence, undermines law and order and threatens this fragile peace,” Thanglet warned.
Demanding protection of land and properties of the Kuki-Jo community in the Imphal Valley, Thanglet said that after the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, thousands of Kuki-Jo people were forcibly evicted from the Imphal Valley, leaving behind their lands, houses and properties.
Thanglet said, “There are widespread reports that many of these properties have been burnt, looted, destroyed or illegally occupied, while the remaining properties also remain under threat of illegal occupation and illegal transfer. We humbly request the Home Minister to ensure that all lands and properties of the Kuki-Jo community in the Imphal Valley are kept safe and protected, and not to allow their transfer or allotment under any circumstances. Go.”
Meanwhile, to ensure long-lasting peace in Manipur, Advisor (North-East) in the Home Ministry A.K. Mishra is holding separate talks with ‘Suspension of Operations’ (SoO) groups of various insurgent groups in the state. It is important to mention here that the current phase of President’s rule in Manipur will end on 13 February 2026. Following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh last year, President’s rule was imposed in the state on February 13, 2025.