In a move that is drawing sharp criticism from various quarters, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has submitted an appeal to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, pressing for the creation of a separate Kukiland Union Territory with Legislature, citing alleged violence and forest land disputes.
The controversial memorandum has sparked concerns over KIM’s persistent push for territorial division amidst an already volatile ethnic landscape.
The Kuki Inpi, claiming to represent village chiefs and landlords in Manipur’s hill districts, has accused Meitei civil bodies, security forces, and political leaders of orchestrating targeted violence against the Kuki community since May 2023.
However, critics argue that such statements by KIM are part of a larger narrative to justify illegal land occupation, particularly in Reserved Forest areas, which have been subject to encroachment disputes for decades.
The appeal to Rashtrapati Bhavan demands the revocation of Reserved Forest declarations, which KIM alleges are unconstitutional.
However, state agencies maintain that these forest protections are essential to preserve ecological balance and curb rampant illegal settlements in ecologically sensitive zones.
KIM’s list of demands also includes the removal of militant camps allegedly set up in so-called Kuki-inhabited areas, amidst the security scenario in Manipur’s hill districts.
KIM’s allegations extend to accusing Meitei CSOs, police commandos, and even media outlets of misinformation and orchestrated violence, claims which critics see as an attempt to escalate ethnic polarisation and internationalise a sensitive internal security issue.
Amidst these allegations, the demand for a separate Kukiland Union Territory is seen by many as a political escalation that could derail ongoing peace efforts and deepen ethnic fault lines in Manipur.
The memorandum has been forwarded to multiple central agencies, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the Governor of Manipur, raising concerns of further politicisation of the crisis.
