Tue Dec 31 18:49:20 UTC 2024: ## NIA Presents Evidence Linking Kuki Militants to Manipur Violence
**Imphal, Manipur –** The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has presented evidence to a special court linking a suspected Kuki militant commander to attacks on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and arson in Manipur on November 11th. The evidence, a YouTube video showing a man believed to be “Tiger,” a commander of the Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P), claiming responsibility for the attacks, was accepted by the court.
The NIA’s submission raises concerns about potential violations of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, a ceasefire pact between the government and several Kuki militant groups. The November 11th incidents involved the kidnapping and killing of six members of a Meitei family, a deadly encounter between the CRPF and suspected Kuki militants leaving 10 dead, and subsequent firing from the hills injuring two. The Manipur government has directly blamed Kuki militants for these acts of violence.
The court accepted the NIA’s video evidence, presented on a pen drive, under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for electronic evidence. The pen drive has been returned to the NIA for further investigation.
The escalating violence in Manipur stems from a long-standing conflict between the Meitei community and various Kuki tribes. The Meiteis are demanding Scheduled Tribe status, while the Kukis, who share ethnic ties with groups in Myanmar, are advocating for a separate administration due to perceived discrimination. The lapsed SoO agreement, along with allegations of militant groups using the ceasefire to strengthen their positions, has further exacerbated tensions. Security forces are currently dismantling militant bunkers in the hills surrounding Imphal, facing resistance from Kuki protestors. The overall death toll from the conflict exceeds 250, with nearly 50,000 displaced.
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