On November 19, 2024, a tragic event unfolded in Churachandpur, Manipur, as Kuki organizations held a massive “coffin rally” to honour 10 Kuki-Zo youths who were allegedly killed by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jiribam district. The rally, which drew around 20,000 participants, was marked by mourners wearing black shirts and carrying mock coffins as a tribute to the slain youths. These youths’ bodies remain in the morgue of a local hospital, awaiting the completion of post-mortem reports.
The rally was organized by the Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), and Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), with a joint notice encouraging students from Class 10 and above to join the demonstration. Many students attended, dressed in black, as a symbol of solidarity with the grieving families. The slain youths had been transported back to Churachandpur after autopsies were carried out in Assam’s Silchar.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a leading organization for the Kuki-Zo community, announced that the funeral of the 10 youths would not take place until their post-mortem reports were provided to their families. The tragic deaths occurred amid ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, which have resulted in over 220 deaths and displaced approximately 70,000 people since May 2023. The violence is primarily between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and Kuki-Zo groups in the adjoining hills.
On November 11, the incident that led to the youths’ deaths was described by the Manipur Police as a gunfight between suspected militants and security forces. According to the police, militants in camouflage uniforms, armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked the Borobekra Police Station and a CRPF camp in Jiribam, killing ten militants. The authorities also claimed that insurgents abducted six civilians during the attack, including three women and three children.
However, the narrative has been challenged by multiple sources. Rev. Dr. Satkhokai Chongloi, Principal of Restoration Theological College and Assistant Executive Secretary of the Kuki Christian Church Manipur Synod, shared harrowing details about the attack on Zairon Village in Jiribam, a Kuki-Zo Christian settlement. According to Rev. Chongloi, the violence escalated after Meitei militants attacked the village on November 7, setting Christian homes on fire. Most families fled, but one woman could not escape. She was captured, tortured, raped, and ultimately burned alive. When villagers returned, they were shocked to find her body, bearing signs of unimaginable brutality.
In the aftermath, a group of young men from the village took up arms to protect their community. On November 11, they went to the CRPF camp to report the violence. Rev. Chongloi stated that the youths were ambushed by Meitei militants embedded within the police forces, who then killed them in cold blood. Disturbingly, two of the young men had no signs of bullet wounds, leading Rev. Chongloi to believe they were tortured before being killed by corrupt police officers. This revelation raises chilling concerns about the corruption and brutality affecting the region.
Following the post-mortem, it was revealed that two of the youths had not died from bullet wounds. Fearing the exposure of this truth, the Manipur government allegedly attempted to halt the post-mortem procedure. In response, the Hmar Kuki Christian community insisted that the remaining post-mortem be conducted in Mizoram to ensure transparency. Eventually, the post-mortem was completed at Silchar Medical College, and the bodies were returned to Churachandpur, awaiting final rites.
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As tensions continue to escalate in the region, the government has taken measures to monitor and manage regional stability. However, local communities remain in mourning and continue to demand justice for the victims of this violence. Dr. Vuchula Satyanandam, Lead Officer for the British Asian Christian Association in India, condemned the killings and the government’s handling of the situation. He noted the lack of credible evidence and reports from the state government, which has failed to offer any accountability.
Rev. Chongloi has also called for urgent support for the displaced Kuki Christian community, with over 50% of the 70,000 displaced individuals seeking refuge in makeshift camps provided by churches and Christian organizations. As the crisis deepens, new displaced individuals continue to arrive at these camps daily.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the British Asian Christian Association, expressed her horror at the brutal killings. She called for full accountability and justice for the victims and their families, emphasising the need to uncover the truth behind the atrocities.
The Kuki-Zo community, in their time of grief, is demanding justice, accountability, and an end to the violence that continues to devastate their lives. The call for transparency and support remains urgent, as they fight for the dignity and rights of those who have been mercilessly killed.
