IMPHAL, September 1, 2025: The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the apex body for the Thadou tribal community, has submitted an urgent and comprehensive 35-page memorandum to the Indian Government and the state governments of Manipur and Assam. The document, addressed to key officials including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demands the immediate termination of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups. TIM's petition asserts that the agreement has been a complete failure, serving only to empower militants and facilitate a systematic campaign of violence and persecution against the Thadou people.
The memorandum begins by clarifying the distinct identity of the Thadou community, stating they are a separate and independent ethnic group, not a subgroup of the Kukis. It highlights that in Myanmar, the Thadou are officially recognized as one of the 53 subgroups of the Chin ethnic group, with their own ethnic population code (427). The petition describes the term "Kuki" as a "colonial construct" that has been used to advance a "jihadist-influenced Kuki supremacist ideology" since the late 1980s, which has been the root cause of the current conflict.
TIM outlines a detailed list of serious allegations against Kuki SoO groups, accusing them of widespread criminal and political activities. The petition names specific individuals, including Dr. T. Lunkim, supremo of the Kuki Christian Church (KCC), P.S. Haokip, President of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip, as key promoters of this divisive ideology. It alleges that these groups, supported by various Kuki civil society organizations like the Kuki Inpi and KSO, and religious bodies like the KCC and Kuki Worship Service (KWS), are engaged in a systematic campaign of "cultural genocide" and are responsible for hate campaigns that incite violence. The document links this ideology to the "Any Kuki tribes" movement of 2003, which is aimed at consolidating political control and wealth.
The memorandum further highlights how the SoO agreement has enabled militants to subvert democratic processes through electoral malpractice, voter intimidation, and forced bloc voting. It also details their alleged involvement in financial crimes and cross-border terrorism, citing the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) as a proxy militant outfit and an extension of the Churachandpur-based KNO/KNA. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to the massive increase in poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, with militants being accused of turning Manipur into a major hub for the illegal drug trade, comparable to the ‘Golden Triangle.’
Specific breaches of the SoO ground rules are also documented. The petition cites the direct participation of Kuki SoO militants in the May 3, 2023, violence at Torbung-Bangla, naming KNO Deputy C-in-C Mr. Thenthang Haokip as a direct participant. The memorandum also highlights alleged links between Kuki groups and anti-India separatist agendas, referencing a viral video of a Kuki group leader seeking support from pro-Khalistan separatists in Canada. It also mentions the book "Zalengam: The Kuki Nation," written by KNO President P.S. Haokip, as a publication that promotes secessionist ideologies.
The petition concludes with a list of recent atrocities, including the brutal murder of Pu Nehkam Jomhao, Chairman of the Thadou Literature Society, on August 30, 2025, who was allegedly killed by Kuki militants for advocating for peace and Thadou identity. TIM urges the government to act decisively, asserting that the continuation of the SoO agreement poses a grave threat to the rule of law and the constitutional integrity of India.
The Thadou Inpi believes that for over 20 years, the SoO agreement has failed to achieve its primary objective of peace and stability. Instead, it has become a cover for terrorist activities, criminal, political, and secessionist agendas, systematically persecuting the Thadou community.
