Churachandpur/Imphal: Thousands of women from the Kuki Zo community rallied in Manipur’s Churachandpur on Wednesday to protest what they termed as the “arbitrary arrest” of individuals from their community by security agencies.
Organised by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), the demonstration started at 11 am from Koite Ground and concluded at Peace Ground in Tuibuong.
Protesters carried placards with messages like “Respect Human Rights,” “Justice for the Kuki Zo Community,” and “Stop Arbitrary Arrests.”
In a memorandum addressed to the Union Home Minister, submitted via the district magistrate, the KWOHR alleged two additional arrests of Kuki individuals in recent days and described these actions as unjust.
They demanded the immediate release of those detained, an independent judicial inquiry into the arrests, action against armed militias, and the seizure of looted weapons.
The organization also sought an investigation into potential collusion with state actors.
The arrests come amid ongoing investigations into insurgent activities.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently detained three individuals in connection with a January 2024 attack on security forces in Moreh, Tengnoupal district, which resulted in the deaths of two police commandos and injuries to several others.
Among those arrested were Thangminlen Mate, a Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal (KIT) member, and two others identified as Kamginthang Gangte of the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Hentinthang Kipgen, a village volunteer.
Security agencies have accused them of planning and executing the attack on an Indian Reserve Battalion post.
