Manipur, India: (By Hannah Chowdhry and Juliet Chowdhry) On 19th November, in Churachandpur, Manipur, Kuki organizations held a massive “coffin rally” to honor and pay tribute to 10 Kuki-Zo youths who were killed in an alleged gunfight with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jiribam district. The rally, which saw widespread participation, was marked by people wearing black shirts and carrying mock coffins as a tribute to the slain youths. The bodies of the victims remain in the morgue of a local hospital, pending the completion of post-mortem reports.

The 20,000 strong rally was organized by the Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), and Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), which issued a joint notice asking schools and colleges to send students from Class 10 and above to participate. Many students attended the rally dressed in black, showing solidarity with the victims’ families. The bodies of the slain youths had been transported back to Churachandpur after autopsies were conducted in Assam’s Silchar.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a key organization for the Kuki-Zo community, announced that the funeral for the 10 youths would not take place until the post-mortem reports were handed over to their families.

This rally and the surrounding unrest are part of the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, which have led to over 220 deaths and displaced an estimated 70,000 people since May 2023. The violence is primarily between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the adjoining hills. The tragic incident, which took place on November 11, was claimed by the Manipur Police as a gunfight between suspected militants and security forces. The police reported that the militants, disguised in camouflage uniforms and armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked the Borobekra Police Station and a CRPF camp in Jiribam, killing ten militants. Police claim that insurgents also allegedly abducted six civilians during the attack, three of whom were women and three were children.

The British Asian Christian Association has spoken directly with Rev. Dr. Satkhokai Chongloi, Principal of Restoration Theological College and  Assistant Executive Secretary of the Kuki Christian Church Manipur Synod in Imphal, Manipur. Rev. Chongloi shared harrowing details about the recent tragedy in Zairon Village, Jeribam, a Christian Kuki-Zo settlement.

According to Rev. Chongloi, “The death of 10 young men occurred after Metei militants launched an attack on the village, setting Christian homes on fire on 7th November.” He explained that, as the violence unfolded, “Most Christian families fled for safety, but one woman was unable to escape. The Metei militants captured her, tortured her, raped her, and then burned her alive. When the villagers returned, they were horrified to find her body, showing signs of unimaginable brutality.”

The murder of Mrs. Zosangkim (29), the wife of Mr. Ngurthansang Hmar (31) and mother to three young children—Franky Lalchawisang (3), Victoria Laldomawi (9), and Lalringdik (7)—left the village in shock and panic. In the wake of this tragedy, village leaders decided to inform the local police, and a meeting with members of the CRPF was organized.

The nightmare escalated further on 11th November, when 10 young men who had taken up arms to protect the village set off for the CRPF camp to report the crimes to the authorities. “However,” Rev. Chongloi shared, “it is alleged that they were ambushed by Metei militants embedded within the police forces, who killed them in cold blood.”

Pastor Chongloi further described the shocking aftermath, stating, “Two of the young men showed no signs of bullet wounds. It is believed that they were tortured before being killed by the corrupt police officers aligned with the militants.” These accounts paint a chilling picture of the brutality and corruption that continues to affect the region.

When the post-mortem revealed that two of the youths had not been killed by bullets, the Government of Manipur attempted to halt the procedure, fearing that the truth about their cold-blooded killings would be exposed. The authorities were concerned that any evidence of their misconduct could be uncovered.

As a result, the Hmar Kuki Christian community demanded that the remaining post-mortem be carried out in Mizoram, the neighboring state, to ensure transparency. Ultimately, the post-mortem was completed at Silchar Medical College, and the bodies are now being kept in the hospital morgue in Churachandpur, awaiting final rites.

As tensions continue to rise in the region, the Manipur government has taken proactive measures to monitor and manage regional stability, while local communities continue to express their grief and demand justice for those killed in the violence.

Dr.Vuchula Satyanandam, Lead Officer for the British Asian Christian Association in India, said:

“On November 11th, 2024, 10 Kuki volunteers were killed by Manipur Police, who falsely branded the deceased as militants with sophisticated weapons. Interestingly, there were no reports of any police officers being killed or injured, which raises serious questions about the official narrative.

These Kuki volunteers had been guarding their Kuki tribal border villages for over a year and a half when the attack occurred in Mongbung, near Jakuradhor in Jiribam District, under the Borobekra Police Station area. The bodies of the slain volunteers were taken to the government mortuary, but even today, the post-mortem reports have not been provided to the court.

In response to this brutal attack, the Kuki community held a mass rally on November 19th, 2024, carrying one of the bodies, dressed in black to mourn their loss. Yet, despite the outcry, there have been no justifiable reports or accountability from the Manipur state government.

The Kuki community is still grieving the daylight killings of their beloved sons by the police, and justice remains elusive.”

Urgent Appeal for Support: Displaced Kuki Christian Community in Manipur

Rev. Chongloi has urgently requested further support for the 70,000+ persecuted Kuki Christian community in Manipur. Currently, over 50% of the displaced Kuki-Zo Christians are living in makeshift support camps provided by churches and Christian organizations. Many others have sought refuge with relatives or relocated to distant areas where they have found new employment, away from the violence. However, new displaced individuals continue to join these camps daily, and the situation remains dire.

The ongoing crisis calls for immediate and sustained assistance to address the endless needs of these displaced families. Your support can make a tangible difference in their lives.

If you would like to assist the 70,000 displaced Christians fleeing violence in Manipur, you can make a donation (here). Your generosity will help provide essential supplies, including food, clothing, kitchen items, toiletries, bedding, and other necessities.

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:

“As a Trustee of the British Asian Christian Association, I am deeply horrified by the brutal and senseless killings of these young Kuki men. It is heart-wrenching to see such violence targeted at innocent lives, especially those who were merely defending their village and their families. The apparent efforts by the Government of Manipur to conceal the true nature of these murders only adds to the suffering of the victims’ families.

“We stand in solidarity with the Hmar Kuki Christian community and demand full accountability for these atrocities. It is essential that the truth be uncovered and that justice is served, not only for these brave young men but for all those affected by this ongoing violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families, and we will continue to advocate for their rights and justice.”