Imphal, August 1: The National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) recent arrests in connection with the 2024 ethnic violence in Manipur have reignited tensions between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, as both sides exchange serious allegations over justice, denial, and selective prosecution.
On July 31, the NIA named and arrested Thanglienlal Hmar alias Boya, identifying him as a key conspirator in the killing of three Meitei women and children in Jiribam.
In a press release issued a day later, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) condemned the arrest, describing it as “arbitrary and unjustified” and alleging that Hmar, a boatman by occupation, had no connection to the killings. The Council accused national agencies of a biased approach and claimed that similar or worse crimes against Kuki-Zo victims remained unaddressed.
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The KZC cited multiple cases where no arrests had been made, including the rape and murder of a Kuki-Zo woman named Zosangkim, the killing of ten Hmar volunteers in Jiribam, the beheading of David Thiek of Langza, and the murder of Sub-Inspector Onkhomang. It also criticized the perceived lack of accountability in the “Naked Parade” case, alleging that those accused had been released, while Kuki-Zo individuals continued to be imprisoned without trial. The Council reiterated its call for a political settlement that recognizes the divide between the communities.
The statement drew a strong rebuttal from the Meitei Heritage Society, which described the KZC’s allegations as factually inaccurate and misleading. In a public response, the Society stated that the NIA had already arrested Meitei individuals in connection with the very cases the KZC claimed were unresolved. Specifically, the Society pointed out that two Meitei men, Nongthombam Meiraba and Sagolsem Sanatomba alias Surchandra Singh, were arrested by the NIA in May 2025 for their alleged involvement in the killing of Zosangkim and the burning and looting of homes in Zairawn village, Jiribam district.
The NIA’s press release dated May 13 corroborates this, naming both men as members of proscribed Meitei insurgent outfits. Nongthombam was allegedly involved in the shooting of Zosangkim, while Sanatomba was part of the armed group responsible for the attack.
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The Meitei Heritage Society also rejected the KZC’s claim regarding the “Naked Parade” incident. It said that the Central Bureau of Investigation had filed a chargesheet against seven Meitei individuals involved in the case. The Society added that, beyond formal investigations, public outrage had resulted in Meitei women themselves burning down the house of one of the accused, a development it framed as evidence of internal community accountability.
The rebuttal went further, accusing the KZC of treating those accused in the killings of Meitei civilians as martyrs, and of suppressing crimes against members of their own tribe. It also questioned the Kuki-Zo Council’s continued demand for a separate administration, calling it a political distraction and an unrealistic goal pursued under the guise of community protection.
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Despite the heated exchange, facts show that arrests have been made on both sides of the ethnic divide. Thanglienlal Hmar has been detained for alleged involvement in the killing of Meitei civilians, while two Meitei individuals are in NIA custody for their role in the killing of Zosangkim, a Kuki-Zo woman.
As investigations continue, the sharp divergence in narratives underscores not only the fragility of communal relations in Manipur but also the broader challenge facing institutions of justice amid unresolved ethnic conflict.