After Jiribam violence Kuki-Zo protesters seek withdrawal of CRPF

Imphal: A large-scale protest erupted today in Gamgiphai, as thousands of Kuki-Zo community members took to the streets, raising their voices in outrage over the alleged Jiribam violence and demanding accountability for the deaths of eleven Kuki volunteers. The protest, organized by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills, came on the heels of growing unrest and deepening mistrust between the Kuki-Zo community and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Chants of “CRPF Down Down,” “We Want Justice,” and “We Are Indian, Not Terrorists” rang through the streets as demonstrators called for an end to what they described as targeted violence by security forces. The protest, which saw an overwhelming turnout, followed reports from Manipur police alleging the neutralization of Kuki militants following an attack on a CRPF post in Jakuradhor and the Borobekra Police Station in Jiribam.

The protesters, however, rejected these claims, accusing the CRPF of complicity in a larger scheme involving the Manipur police and armed militants. The community pointed to a pattern of brutal incidents they allege to be part of a coordinated attack against their people.

As the protests took place, another attack on Zairawn village in Jiribam was reported, where an armed group had assaulted the community. The village had been attacked previously on November 7, during which a 31-year-old school teacher and mother of three was killed.

In a tribute, the community held a condolence ceremony along National Highway 2, lighting candles and laying flowers in honor of the eleven Kuki-Zo volunteers who reportedly lost their lives in the Jiribam massacre. Religious leaders led prayers for the deceased, while the community vowed to continue their fight for justice.

The demonstration coincided with a 24-hour shutdown imposed by the CoTU, which brought business activities, schools, and government institutions to a standstill. Essential services were the only exemptions, and the highway was heavily monitored, with vehicle movement restricted.

At the heart of the protest, Ng. Lun Kipgen, a spokesperson for the CoTU, accused the CRPF of a deliberate betrayal and said that the community’s volunteers had adhered to a strict policy of non-violence towards central security forces.

“We have always trained our volunteers to never raise arms against central security forces,” Kipgen said. “But the CRPF’s actions have betrayed us. We will no longer remain passive if this continues.”

Kipgen also questioned the government’s decision to replace the Assam Rifles with the CRPF, a move he described as an act of appeasement towards the majority community in Manipur. “This was not a move towards peace,” he said, adding that it had instead escalated the violence. “We want the Assam Rifles back in the region. Only they can ensure the neutrality and stability we desperately need.”

Kipgen’s remarks were met with strong support from the crowd, who repeated the call for the return of Assam Rifles to critical areas such as Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. He also reiterated the community’s demand for the immediate withdrawal of CRPF personnel from Kuki-Zo villages in Jiribam, citing a complete breakdown of trust.

Further fueling tensions, the Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong, and Noney (KIJTN) condemned the Jiribam violence, calling it a “cold-blooded murder” carried out despite the peaceful nature of the volunteers’ approach.

KIJTN has now called for an independent investigation into the incident, demanding a thorough inquiry by a central agency to determine the accountability of all parties involved.