A Kuki-Zo organisation in Manipur has appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Volker Türk, to intervene in the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state, citing “gross human rights violations” against their community.

The plea comes just a week after India dismissed concerns raised by Türk regarding democratic backsliding, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.

The appeal follows fresh violence in Kangpokpi on March 8, where one Kuki man was killed, and several others sustained injuries during clashes.

Earlier, on March 4, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, had strongly refuted Türk’s concerns, stating that the assessment did not reflect the ground realities.

However, days later, the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) accused security forces of using excessive force against Kuki-Zo protesters who were demonstrating against the resumption of "free movement" between the valley and hill areas, as directed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to KOHUR, security personnel allegedly fired on protesters who were waving the national flag and singing the national anthem near Gamgiphai, a designated buffer zone between Meitei-majority valley areas and Kuki-majority hill districts. The protesters were later dispersed using tear gas and lathi charges.

The March 8 violence erupted when a Meitei group attempted to march toward Kuki-Zo areas in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. Clashes broke out in Kangpokpi, particularly near the Gamgiphai buffer zone, while security forces intervened to prevent further escalation.

KOHUR’s statement urged the UNHCHR to take note of the alleged discrimination faced by the Kuki-Zo people due to their ethnicity and religion.

“Therefore, we invite OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights), Volker Turk, to take note of the discrimination against Kuki-Zo people based on their religion and ethnicity and the gross violation of human rights, especially against the minority Kuki-Zo people,” the statement read, reported The Telegraph Online.

The ethnic conflict in Manipur, ongoing since May 2023, has resulted in at least 261 deaths and displaced over 60,000 people.

The tensions escalated further after the Centre resumed bus services between the valley and hills without a political resolution. Kuki-Zo groups have opposed this move, demanding Union Territory status for their areas before agreeing to unrestricted movement.

Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, and the March 8 incident marks the first death in ethnic clashes since then. In response, the Kuki-Zo Council has called for an indefinite shutdown in Kangpokpi and other Kuki-dominated regions, bringing daily life to a standstill.