Manipur: Kuki-Zo observe 33rd Remembrance Day amid Delhi talks, reiterate demand for separate administration

As the BJP’s central leadership held crucial consultations with Manipur MLAs and alliance partners in New Delhi, a parallel and pointed political message emerged from the hills of Manipur. The Kuki-Zo community on Tuesday, February 3, observed the 33rd Remembrance Day at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Phaijang, Kangpokpi district, using the occasion to firmly reiterate its long-standing demand for a separate administration.

Organised under the banner of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), the observance brought together leaders and representatives from Kuki Inpi, Thadou Inpi, Kuki Women Union Sadar Hills, Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Sadar Hills, along with various tribal bodies and civil society organisations. The gathering paid homage to those who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict and are interred at the Martyrs’ Cemetery.

Prayers were offered for the departed souls and for the families left behind, as speakers recalled the sacrifices made by the community over decades. Far from being a mere ceremonial tribute, the remembrance underscored a growing political urgency and an unwavering resolve among the Kuki-Zo people.

On the occasion, CoTU unequivocally reaffirmed the community’s unified political demand for a Separate Administration in the form of a Union Territory with Legislature. Leaders asserted that prolonged neglect, unfulfilled assurances, and persistent insecurity have left the Kuki-Zo people with no viable alternative but to seek a permanent political solution that ensures justice, security, and self-governance.

A total shutdown was observed across Kangpokpi district throughout the day. Business establishments remained closed, educational and private institutions suspended operations, and residents voluntarily refrained from travel, agricultural work, and routine economic activities. Only essential vehicular movement was permitted.