Imphal: With violence persisting in Manipur for over 500 days, Khuraijam Athouba of Manipur has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene urgently, claiming that the Government of India has failed to protect the indigenous people of the region.
Addressing the 26th meeting of the 57th UNHRC session in Geneva on Wednesday, Athouba, who serves as the working president of the International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA), an Imphal-based civil society organization, emphasized the turmoil that began with violent attacks by Kuki narco-terrorists on the Meitei community since May 3 of the previous year.
Athouba stated, “For the past 15 months, armed groups linked to Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, currently engaged in peace talks with the Government of India, have been launching violent attacks. These include drone bombings and rocket strikes from distances as far as 7 kilometers.”
In his second intervention during the General Debate on Agenda Item 5, titled “Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention,” Athouba stressed that the violence has escalated to a new level, targeting civilian areas, causing deaths, and widespread destruction of property.
He also alerted the Council to a recent warning from Kuldiep Singh, Chairman of the Unified Command, who reported that around 900 well-trained armed Kuki militants have infiltrated Manipur from across the Indo-Myanmar border, planning coordinated assaults against the Indigenous population.
Despite the presence of over 60,000 Indian troops in the region, Athouba criticized the lack of effective action, raising concerns about possible government complicity and the prioritization of geopolitical interests over the safety of its own people.
Athouba expressed deep concern that Manipur’s indigenous communities are caught in a “hostage-like” situation, trapped between escalating violence and inadequate state protection. He described the crisis as a serious human rights emergency, threatening the very existence of one of the oldest civilizations in Southeast Asia.
He urged the Council to assign relevant mandate offices and special rapporteurs to assess the deteriorating situation in the region and recognize the threat posed by immigrant narco-terrorism, calling for immediate international action to prevent further escalation.
The 26th Meeting of the 57th UNHRC Session primarily focused on the crisis in Manipur and the broader northeastern region. Multiple speakers from various NGOs and regions highlighted similar turmoil affecting Manipur, Assam, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
