Manipur government initiated legal proceedings against Paojakhup Guite, president of the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Delhi chapter, following a viral video in which he allegedly issued death threats against Meitei individuals planning to attend the upcoming Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district.
Manipur Police confirmed that an FIR was registered at Churachandpur police station. The FIR was based on a video circulating on social media in which Guite allegedly warned Meiteis not to cross the buffer zone into Ukhrul for the festival, threatening that those who did "would not be allowed to return alive."
“An FIR has been registered and all efforts, including raids in nearby districts, are underway to arrest Guite immediately,” said a police officer.
Law enforcement agencies in neighboring states — including Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya — have also been alerted to assist in the search for Guite.
In anticipation of possible unrest, security has been heightened in and around Ukhrul ahead of the Shirui Lily Festival, scheduled from May 20 to 24. The annual event honors the rare Shirui Lily, found only in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district of Ukhrul.
Guite’s remarks have drawn widespread condemnation. Ashang Kasar, president of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum Manipur and a prominent Naga activist, questioned the failure of the state administration to prevent such inflammatory statements.
“Where is the governor? Where is the chief secretary? Where is the DGP?” Kasar asked, criticising the apparent administrative lapse despite the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
In a move to ease tensions, local Kuki village chiefs along the Imphal-Ukhrul road have assured the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL)—the region’s apex tribal body—that they will not disrupt the festival. They have committed to maintaining peace and refraining from any form of checking or frisking within TNL’s jurisdiction.
Despite these reassurances, the situation remains volatile. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has condemned the FIR against Guite, describing it as “unjust and arbitrary.” In a statement, the group accused the authorities of selectively targeting Kuki community members and warned of legal resistance.
Meanwhile, the Meitei Heritage Society has strongly denounced Guite’s comments, calling them “shocking and inflammatory.
The organisation accused him of inciting violence and urged strict legal action. “Such hate-filled speech cannot be tolerated. The swift action by Manipur police is commendable and should serve as a warning against those who seek to disrupt peace,” the society stated.
This incident unfolds amid ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, where violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023 have resulted in over 260 deaths and the displacement of thousands. President’s Rule was imposed on February 13, 2025, after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, placing the state under direct central administration with the legislative assembly in suspended animation.
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