HM NEWS UPDATE || 5,000-Strong KIM Rally Shakes Kangpokpi, Presses PM for Justice, Hostages’ Release

As part of Kuki Inpi Manipur’s nationwide rally, thousands of Kuki-Zo people took to the streets of Kangpokpi today in one of the largest democratic mobilisations witnessed in recent months, demanding justice for three slain church leaders, the immediate release of 14 Kuki-Zo hostages, and urgent intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An estimated 5,000 people joined the peaceful procession from Brig. M. Thomas Ground to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, raising slogans such as “Justice for Our Church Leaders,” “Release the Hostages,” and “Selective Justice is Injustice.” The rally reflected mounting frustration over the brutal killing of three Kuki-Zo church leaders on May 13 and the continued captivity of 14 Kuki-Zo individuals allegedly being held hostage in Senapati district. Church leaders joined the rally in their clerical gowns, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of demonstrators. Among them was Dr. S. Chongloi, Secretary of the Kuki-Zo Christian Forum, who strongly condemned the killings. Describing pastors and religious leaders as peace-loving servants of humanity, Dr. Chongloi urged the authorities to identify, arrest, and prosecute every individual responsible for the murders. Following the rally, a delegation of Kuki Inpi Manipur leaders and civil society representatives submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through Deputy Commissioner Mahesh Chaudhari. The memorandum described the killing of the three church leaders as a “barbaric ambush” and a direct assault on humanity, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence. It alleged that despite widespread outrage, no arrests have been made nearly three weeks after the killings. KIM’S KEY DEMANDS INCLUDE: • Immediate arrest of all perpetrators • A time-bound investigation by central agencies • Action against the sponsors and facilitators of the attack • Compensation and rehabilitation for the victims’ families • Safe and unconditional release of the 14 hostages • Enhanced security for Kuki-Zo areas • Free movement along NH-2 and NH-37 • An expedited political solution through dialogue with SoO groups KIM also accused the authorities of allowing a pattern of selective justice to emerge, as the memorandum pointed out that four Kuki-Zo individuals were swiftly arrested in connection with the disappearance of six Naga individuals, while no comparable action has been taken regarding the killing of the church leaders or the ongoing hostage crisis. As the rally concluded peacefully, the message from Kangpokpi was loud and unmistakable: Without justice for the slain church leaders, without the release of the 14 hostages, and without a meaningful political solution, peace and reconciliation in Manipur will remain elusive. #narendramodi #pmo #mha