Kuki anger explodes over Meitei-dominated govt; group announces Rs 20 lakh bounty on Dy CM Nemcha Kipgen

• Fresh violence erupts in Kuki areas after new Manipur govt takes charge
• Kuki groups call shutdown, boycott of MLAs who joined government
• Armed group offers cash reward for killing deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen

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Just a day after a new elected government took charge in Manipur, fresh violence broke out in Kuki-dominated areas of Churachandpur district on Thursday. The unrest followed a shutdown and “social boycott” called by Kuki-Zo organisations against five Kuki MLAs who joined the newly formed government.

#WATCH | Manipur | Violence broke out between security forces and the mob in Churachandpur against Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho, taking oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers of Manipur Police use tear gas to disperse the protestors (05.02) pic.twitter.com/SQI9vpnjho

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Videos shared by Kuki groups showed protesters pelting stones, burning tyres and damaging property in the Tuibuong area. The situation turned tense after security forces tried to prevent protesters from enforcing the shutdown, leading to clashes.

Protests over Kuki MLA joining government

The anger was triggered after Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki woman MLA, took oath as deputy chief minister through a virtual ceremony. Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a Meitei MLA, was sworn in as Manipur’s chief minister, while Losii Dikho, a Naga legislator, was appointed as the second deputy chief minister.

Kuki-Zo organisations strongly opposed the participation of Kuki MLAs in the government, especially in the absence of a political settlement to the ongoing ethnic conflict. Protests were reported across several Kuki-majority areas, while a group of Kukis also staged a demonstration outside Manipur Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday night.

Shutdown and boycott announced

The Joint Forum of Seven (JF7), an umbrella body of Kuki organisations, called for a shutdown in Kuki-dominated regions. In addition, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) announced a “social boycott” of the five MLAs who joined the government.

In a strongly worded statement, the KZC accused the MLAs of betraying the community. It said the MLAs violated a resolution adopted on January 13 in Guwahati, which had been endorsed by Kuki organisations, armed groups under suspension of operations, and the MLAs themselves.

The resolution had stated that Kuki representatives would not participate in forming a government unless there was a written commitment from the Centre and the state supporting a negotiated political solution, including the demand for a Union Territory with a legislature.

Cash reward for killing Deputy CM

Tensions escalated further after a Kuki “village volunteers” group, which is armed, announced "cash reward" of Rs 20 lakh for killing Kigen and Rs 10 lakh each against two Hmar-Zomi MLAs, who attended the swearing-in at Meitei-dominated Imphal.

Kuki Students’ Organisation and several other groups backed the shutdown and boycott, calling the MLAs’ decision unacceptable at a time when the community continues to face displacement and violence.

Fresh challenge for new government

President’s Rule in Manipur, which was imposed on February 13 last year, was lifted after the formation of the government, raising hopes that an elected government could help restore peace after nearly two years of ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kukis.

By appointing a Kuki and a Naga leader as deputy chief ministers, the BJP appeared to signal outreach to different communities. However, the violence that followed has emerged as an early challenge for the new government.

There are 10 MLAs representing Kuki-Zo communities in the Manipur Assembly, including seven from the BJP. Five BJP Kuki MLAs attended a party meeting in New Delhi earlier this week where Yumnam Khemchand Singh was elected as the BJP legislature party leader.