Imphal: The Kuki National Front (KNF), a militant group under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the state and central governments, has threatened to abduct and kill Thadou leaders who refuse to identify as part of the Kuki community.
This warning came just a day after a major Thadou Convention held in Guwahati (from November 1-3) declared Thadou as one of the 29 recognized tribes in Manipur, separate from the Kuki identity. The convention asserted that “Thadou is a distinct ethnic group, independent from Kuki, and any organization using the Thadou name to promote Kuki affiliation is illegitimate and does not represent Thadou interests.”
On Monday, in a statement by LH Stephen of the Ministry of Information and Publicity, the KNF insisted that Thadou, along with Gangte, Vaiphei, Paite, Simte, and Hmar, belong to the broader Kuki-Zo community. “We are fighting for a separate administration under the name ‘Kukiland,'” the statement read. “Any tribe denying their Kuki-Zo affiliation is essentially claiming a distinct identity, like that of Tangkhul, Mao, Meitei, or Pangal.”
The KNF also warned the Thadou Community International (TCI), urging them to cease activities against the Kuki identity. Members who continue to support the Meitei Chief Minister, whom the KNF accuses of trying to eliminate the Kuki people, were told to reconsider their stance.
