Kangpokpi: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki tribes in Manipur, has strongly condemned what it described as the “unacceptable and deeply disturbing” actions of the Central Security Forces in Leilon Vaiphei and its adjoining villages, alleging that innocent civilians were subjected to intimidation and harassment in the aftermath of a recent armed attack.
In a press statement, KIM expressed outrage over security operations conducted in Leilon Vaiphei, where personnel reportedly entered the village, imposed a military-style lockdown, carried out house-to-house searches, and allegedly shouted at villagers, including women, children, students, and elderly residents.
The organisation stated that the actions were particularly insensitive given that Leilon Vaiphei had come under attack only a day earlier, allegedly by cadres of the NSCN-IM. The attack reportedly left three Kuki-Zo students critically injured, who are currently undergoing medical treatment.
“At a time when the villagers are traumatised, grieving, and living in fear, the Central Security Forces chose to treat the victims as suspects instead of protecting them from the perpetrators,” the statement said.
Questioning the rationale behind the operation, KIM asked why such forceful measures were being undertaken in Kuki-Zo villages that had just suffered an armed assault while, according to the organisation, areas where NSCN-IM and its alleged proxy groups operate remain largely untouched.
The apex body maintained that the residents of Leilon Vaiphei and neighbouring villages are victims of armed aggression and not criminals. It argued that subjecting them to lockdowns, searches, intimidation, and verbal abuse immediately after a violent incident amounted to further victimisation of an already traumatised population.
“The people of Leilon Vaiphei and adjoining villages are not criminals. They are victims of armed aggression,” KIM stated, adding that such actions only deepen the wounds of victims, create fear among civilians, and erode public trust in the security establishment.
Expressing concern over the treatment of vulnerable sections of society, the organisation said the harassment of women, children, the elderly, and traumatised villagers could not be justified in the name of security. It stressed that security operations should never become a form of collective punishment and called for equal application of the rule of law across all communities.
In one of the strongest portions of the statement, KIM asserted that genuine peace and justice can only be achieved when authorities focus on those responsible for violence rather than targeting those who have already suffered from it. “If the Government is truly committed to peace and justice, it must act against the real perpetrators of violence, not against the people who have already suffered from it,” the organisation said.
The Kuki body further urged the Government of India and the concerned authorities to immediately halt any form of intimidation or harassment of innocent civilians. It also called for concrete action against the NSCN-IM and its alleged proxies, whom it accused of being responsible for the attack on the village. Additionally, KIM demanded justice for the three injured Kuki-Zo students and adequate protection for affected villagers living under fear following the incident.
Reiterating its commitment to justice and equal treatment under the law, the organisation warned against what it termed “selective action, intimidation, and double standards,” asserting that lasting peace cannot be built while victims are allegedly treated as targets and armed aggressors continue to operate with impunity.
