UKHRUL: Former Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax K Timothy Zimik has written to the Manipur Governor on “The root cause of Ethnic Crisis in Manipur and the naked Kuki armed aggression against the Nagas”. The petition submitted on 4th April, 2026, was also copied to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister.
Timothy Zimik stated that the continuous Kuki illegal immigration to Manipur from Myanmar is the main root cause of the ethnic conflicts between the Nagas and the Kukis for generations. He also stated that the people who started the ongoing Meitei-Kuki-Zo war are also the same Kuki illegal immigrants from Myanmar. Many new Kuki villages have been established, encroaching on the lands of the indigenous people (994 new villages from 2006 to 2024), he stated. He also cited the governor’s speech on 13th September 2025, in Churachandpur in the presence of the Prime Minister, and the speeches of the former Chief Justice of Manipur High Court, Siddharth Mridul, and the Home Minister, among others, to support his claims.
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Timothy also raises the issue of drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and poppy plantations by the Kuki-Chin groups. He alleges that in the Kuki-inhabited areas of Manipur, the main farming activity is poppy cultivation. “As a public relations exercise, some Kuki CSOs may issue fake statements discouraging poppy plantations. This is just a facade – the truth being hidden,” he said, adding, “Manipur has become the critical transit hub/point for illicit narcotics entering India from the Golden Triangle (comprising Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand), especially through its 398 km porous border with Myanmar.” Also, he pointed out that the Kukis get finance and arms from these illegal drug trades, bringing mayhem in Manipur.
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Further, the former bureaucrat accused the Kukis of armed aggression against the Nagas. “The Kuki history is replete with massacres of innocent Nagas – men, women, children, and infants. The Naga-Kuki war of 1993-97 and the ongoing Meitei-Kuki war were started by the Kukis,” he alleged.
On the situation in Sinakeithei village, he, as a citizen, recalled that on 4 August, 2021, the Kukis murdered two Sinakeithei villagers in cold blood, and their bodies were discovered on 8th of August, 2021. “The unprovoked naked armed aggressions by the Kuki armed terrorists against the Sinakeithei village are a declaration of war on the Nagas. If the State government further allows such actions, then from now on, the Nagas will be fully justified to attack any Kuki village in Manipur in the lands of the Nagas,” he cautions.
He commended the Manipur Rifles, the Border Security Force, and the 4 Mahar Regiment for protecting the villagers within the confines of the village, but expressed dissatisfaction with their failure to remove the Kuki militants and their bunkers.
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“The Kukis will stop attacking the innocent Naga villagers, only when the governments of India and Manipur stop supporting/ protecting them. This is the crux of the problem of Manipur,” he stated, adding, “Since the government of India and the present government of Manipur have sided with the Kuki illegal immigrants, the Kukis have become so bold and audacious to attack innocent Nagas without fear of any consequences,” he stated, referring to the incidents at Litan, Ereng, Sinakeithei, Shangkai, Sharkaphung, and Kamjong Headquarters.
Further, Timothy termed the Suspension of Operations Pact (SoO) as a licence to attack the Indigenous People of Manipur with impunity. He accuses the government of India of using the Kukis and their armed groups for various works, and in return, the Kukis and their armed groups take government support and protection for carving out a Kuki homeland in Manipur. SoO camps are carefully selected to advance the plans of establishing the Kuki homeland, and the SoO ground rules are structured in such a manner that they are not to be followed or enforced at all, he wrote.
“As the indigenous people of Manipur see it, and the evidence available in the public domain, the Assam Rifles and the Kuki armed terrorists are seen to be living and working together as business partners, aiming to achieve a shared goal – the goal of finishing the Nagas / Meiteis, who are fighting for their political rights,” he said.
Furthermore, the former Principal Chief of Income Tax also shared his thoughts on the distribution of resources between the Imphal valley and the hill areas of Manipur. He stated that the unequal distribution of resources is a contributing factor to ethnic tensions in Manipur. He mentioned his attempts to address the issue, which were submitted to the governor, stating the need for a separate budget for hill areas and equitable distribution of revenue.
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Moreover, the petitioner objected to celebrating the Shirui Lily Festival 2026, considering the ongoing Kuki armed aggressions against the Nagas and the Tangkhuls in particular. In the fitness of things, the government of Manipur should not proceed with the Shirui Lily festival programme this year, but spend its time, energy, and resources in developing the Shirui village and its surroundings.
Additionally, the former bureaucrat demanded the immediate NRC exercise in Manipur so that the illegal immigrants are identified and deported. The influx of Kuki-Chin Illegal immlgrants from Myanmar in large numbers is the primary driver of the ethic wars and demographic shifts in Manipur. Due to the lack of political will, the State government miserably failed to detect, imprison, or deport illegal immigrants under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, or the repealed laws- the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, Foreigners Act, 1946 and Immigration (Carriers” Liability) Act, 2000,” he said.
Under the circumstances, the bureaucrat places the following demands:
(1) Order the security forces to drive out the armed Kuki terrorists from the Sinakeithei village territorial areas and allow the villagers to work and live in peace. Ensure the full posting of the sanctioned strength of the Manipur Police in the village.
(2) Stop fresh illegal immigration from Myanmar, and detect and deport Kuki-Chin illegal immigrants under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and other related applicable laws.
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3) Stop supporting, protecting, and using the armed Kuki terrorists against the indigenous people of Manipur. Stop believing that the Kuki-Zo-Chin of India and Myanmar will advance India’s Act East Policy and its geo-political interests beyond India’s international border.
4) Abrogate the SoO pact if India wants peace in Manipur. Disarm the heavily armed Kuki terrorists.
5) Conduct NRC in Manipur with 1951 as the base year to record genuine citizens, and to identify and deport illegal immigrants.
(6) Order a separate budget for the Hill Areas of Manipur. In exercise of the special responsibility of the Governor and his discretionary power, a detailed report should be sent to the President of Indla to issue a new order (replacing, amending, or in addition to the Order of 1972) under Article 371C of the Constitution to bring the required changes.
(7) Declare and actively enforce safe movements in all National and State highways and all roads connecting towns and villages.