Manipur: Kuki organisations rally across hill districts, demand separate Kukiland for peace

Various Kuki organizations intensified their demand for a separate Kuki homeland, staging rallies across hill districts of Manipur on August 31. The demonstrations, held in districts including Jiribam, Tamenglong, and Churachandpur, saw significant participation as protesters voiced their dissatisfaction with the Biren Singh government.

With placards in hands and slogans ringing, protesters claimed a separate administration as the only valid solution to the current unrest in Manipur. One of the main posters that appeared during the rally read: "For peace in Manipur, Mother India has to deliver a new baby statehood called Kukiland."

Mass participation was noted in the rallies, particularly along National Highway 37 from Lhangnom to Tatbung, and in Tuibong, Churachandpur, where the demand for "Kukiland" reached very powerfully to the gathering.

The Manipur rallies marked a precursor to a larger protest scheduled for August 31, 2024, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The call for a creation of a Union Territory with Legislature for the Kukizos has also been echoed by different Kuki bodies, including Kuki Inpi and Kuki Students' Organisation. The rally scheduled between 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM, is being held to protest what the organizers described as "institutionalised genocide" by the N. Biren Singh-led BJP against the Kuki-Zo people. 

In the wake of this announced protest, the Manipur State Government issued a public notice on August 30 and, while acknowledging the announcement by Zomi Students' Federation for a rally on August 31, another notice received from the Kuki Students' Organisation announced its rally in the Kangpokpi District. It also called for the closure of government offices and private institutions.

Apprehensive over the maintenance of law and order, the state government issued orders for preemptive measures. The people were asked to keep business establishments, government offices and private institutions open and running as usual.