Thadou leader who took part in Manipur peace meeting killed allegedly by Kuki extremists

A Thadou community leader from Assam who had participated in a peace meeting with Meitei groups in Manipur’s capital Imphal nearly a month ago has been killed allegedly by Kuki extremists, The Hindu reported

Nehkam Jomhao was abducted from his home in the Chonghang Veng area in the Karbi Anglong district around 7.30 pm on Saturday, and killed later, the police said.

Six persons, including some members of the Kuki Revolutionary Army, have been arrested for the killing, according to the police. “They confessed to having killed the abducted person, whose body is yet to be recovered,” Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police Sanjib Saikia was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities that have killed at least 260 persons and displaced more than 59,000 persons since May 2023. There were periodic upticks in violence in 2024.

President’s Rule was imposed in February after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.

While the Thadous have long been considered part of the broader Kuki umbrella, several community leaders have been asserting that they have a distinct identity independent of the Kukis.

Jomhao killed for pursuing peace: Thadou groups

Thadou organisations alleged that Jomhao was targeted for pursuing peace with the Meiteis notwithstanding diktats from several Kuki armed groups, The Hindu reported.

The Thadou Students’ Association-General Headquarters said...

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