Churachandpur: Several tribal student organisations in Manipur on Thursday warned that they would boycott the National Investigation Agency (NIA), accusing it of bias against the Kuki-Zo community if any of its members were summoned in the future.
In a joint statement, the Zomi Students Federation, Kuki Students Organisation, and Hmar Students Association alleged that the NIA has shown “selective targeting” of community leaders and displayed a “high degree of prejudice” in the handling of cases involving Kuki-Zo individuals.
They claimed the recent actions of the agency reflected an attempt to suppress tribal voices.
The statement was issued in the wake of an army operation in which four members of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) were killed at Khanpi village in Henglep sub-division of Churachandpur district earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Meghalaya: VPP launches scathing attack on NPP, accuses Conrad of weak leadership
The student groups described the deceased as youths who were “defending their land.”
The bodies of the four were laid to rest on Thursday evening after post-mortem examinations were completed.
As a mark of mourning, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) called for a total shutdown in Churachandpur town from noon until the burials were concluded.
The shutdown, which ended around 5:30 pm, received a mixed response — while markets in the town centre remained open, normal life was partially disrupted in several areas.
