Tuiṭhaphai, May 17, 2025, Virthli (ONP): The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Delhi & NCR, has strongly condemned the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Manipur Police against its incumbent president, Mr. Paojakhup Guite, calling it “politically motivated,” “spurious,” and “vindictive.” In a press release issued today, the KSO termed the FIR as an “assault on democratic values” and a “blatant attempt to criminalise the voice of a historically oppressed and marginalised community.”
The statement comes after Mr. Guite delivered a speech in Churachandpur where he questioned the real motives behind the upcoming Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul. Guite reportedly raised concerns over alleged encroachments into demarcated buffer zones - areas meant to maintain peace amid ongoing ethnic tensions. The KSO argues that his remarks echoed the fears of the Kuki people and were made in the spirit of safeguarding communal peace.
“The swift action taken against our President stands in stark contrast to the complete inaction against individuals like Prof. Premananda, who, in a televised statement, openly called Kukis terrorists and incited violence,” the statement read. KSO decried the lack of legal action against such inflammatory figures and accused state machinery of selectively criminalising Kuki voices while shielding hate speech from dominant groups.
ALSO READ: FIR Filed Against KSO Delhi President Over Alleged Threat Ahead of Shirui Festival
The organisation framed the FIR as part of a wider “dangerous campaign” to delegitimise Kuki leadership, intimidate the community, and silence dissent. It warned that such state-sponsored persecution threatens to deepen already fragile communal divisions in Manipur and undermines the democratic space for marginalised voices.
The KSO made three firm demands:
1. Immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the FIR against Mr. Guite.
2. Timely prosecution of those inciting hatred and violence against Kukis, including Prof. Premananda.
3. Formation of an independent inquiry into the functioning of law enforcement in Manipur, with a mandate to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law.
“Speaking truth to power is not sedition - it is an act of democratic courage,” the press release concluded, vowing continued mobilisation and resistance against what the group calls state repression. “We will not be silenced. We will not back down.”
ALSO READ: KOHUR Condemns FIR Against Kuki Student Leader, Alleges Selective Prosecution
The controversy adds to the growing unrest in Manipur, which has been marred by ethnic violence and rising distrust between communities, even as civil society organisations call for justice and reconciliation.
