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Time of India
19-05-2025
- Time of India
Manipur's Shirui Lily Festival back amid heightened security
Guwahati: The resumption of the Shirui Lily Festival in Manipur 's Ukhrul district , following a two-year pause, represents more than just commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Royal Horticulture Society London's recognition of the state flower. It serves as a crucial assessment of security measures in the conflict-hit state striving towards stability. Authorities, including state police and central security forces, have implemented safety protocols for festival attendees from all communities during the five-day celebration commencing Tuesday. The festival, organised by Manipur tourism, promotes sustainable tourism while highlighting the endangered Shirui Lily , a rare flower exclusive to Shirui Hills in the state. The fifth edition of the festival holds particular significance in demonstrating safety in Manipur, which was under President's rule since Feb. However, the event has attracted attention due to reported threats from certain Kuki-affiliated individuals targeting Meitei community members planning to attend the festival in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated Ukhrul district. Manipur Police confirmed on Monday the registration of a criminal case regarding social media threats, while assuring comprehensive security arrangements for the attendees. "Some unknown individual and organisation allegedly of Kuki community have issued threat messages to the Meitei, who are planning to visit Shirui Festival in Ukhrul today mostly on various social media platforms. Any such threats are taken seriously and inquired into promptly. So far, these organisations are found to be non-existent," Manipur Police stated through a post on X on Monday. Manipur Police said legitimate Kuki organisations have distanced themselves from these unidentified groups. "A criminal case has been registered at Cyber Crime PS in this regard and all-out effort shall be made to arrest them," read the post. Authorities conduct regular security assessments, with senior officers overseeing festival arrangements, police said. Security measures extend through Kuki-inhabited villages located along the 80-83km route from Imphal to the festival's six venues across four villages in Ukhrul. Tangkhul Naga Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have collaborated with the state govt, managing volunteers who coordinate cultural presentations, including traditional performances, crafts displays, and indigenous sports. "With immense help from the local organisations and people of Ukhrul, we are organising this Shirui festival with a lot of hope for peace. In hospitality, too, CSOs are helping, besides helping in organising the events showcasing the indigenous culture. We have three to four layers of security in the district in view of the festival. We are fully prepared," Ukhrul DC Asish Das told TOI on Monday evening. He added that around 2,000 security personnel have been deployed across the district. Manipur Police recently filed an FIR against Paojakhup Guite, president of Kuki Student Organisation, Delhi and NCR, for threatening to prevent Meiteis from crossing the buffer zone to attend the festival.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Manipur Police file FIR against Kuki leader for threatening Meiteis
Guwahati: Manipur Police have filed an FIR against Paojakhup Guite, the president of the Kuki Student Organisation (KSO), Delhi & NCR, for threatening not to allow Meiteis to cross the buffer zone to attend the Shirui Lily Festival next week in Manipur's Ukhrul district. Manipur Police assured full security to everyone attending the fifth edition of the state-level festival in Ukhrul district, which is predominantly inhabited by Nagas. The police already launched a search operation to nab Guite, besides requesting its neighbouring northeastern states to apprehend the Kuki organisation leader. "As regards to one Paojakhup Guite, Prez KSO Delhi threats (in a video) to the Meitei, to not allow to cross the buffer zone to attend the upcoming Shirui Festival in Ukhrul, which is circulated in social media since yesterday," Manipur Police said in a post on 'X' on Saturday. Churachandpur district police registered the FIR, stating that all efforts, including raids in nearby districts, are being made for his immediate arrest. "The police of neighbouring states of Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland & Meghalaya etc have been requested for arresting him as quickly as possible," read the post. The KSO, Delhi & NCR, on the other hand, condemned the lodging of the FIR against Guite. The organisation called the FIR 'politically motivated'. "This spurious and vindictive move is nothing short of an assault on democratic values and a blatant attempt to criminalise the voice of a historically oppressed and marginalised community," KSO, Delhi & NCR, said in a statement. The organisation said that Guite's recent public address in Churachandpur — where he critically questioned the true motives behind the organisation of the Shirui Lily Festival — highlighted 'valid concerns about deliberate encroachments on demarcated buffer zones, which were established to maintain peace amid a devastating ethnic conflict'. "His words echoed the deeply rooted fears of the Kuki people, who have long endured state apathy, systemic exclusion, and institutionalised discrimination," the organisation said. The KSO, Delhi & NCR, observed the FIR not merely as an attack on their president but as part of a broader and dangerous campaign to delegitimise Kuki leadership. The organisation demanded the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of the FIR against Guite. "Let it be crystal clear: speaking truth to power is not sedition — it is an act of democratic courage. We will continue to speak, to mobilise, and to resist every act of state repression with unwavering determination and collective strength. The fight for justice is far from over, and our voices will only grow louder," the organisation said. The Shirui Festival is organised in honour of Manipur's state flower, the Shirui Lily. The flower is found in the hills of the Tangkhul Naga-majority Ukhrul district. The festival is scheduled from May 20 to May 24, and the nearly 80km route from Imphal to the Ukhrul district headquarters passes through several villages inhabited by Kukis, who have been at loggerheads with the Meiteis since the beginning of the ethnic conflict in Manipur in May 2023.
India Today
17-05-2025
- India Today
Manipur: Case against Kuki student leader who threatened Meiteis ahead of festival
A case has been registered against Paojakhup Guite, president of the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Delhi, after a video surfaced on social media allegedly showing him issuing threats to the Meitei community, warning them not to cross the buffer zone to attend the upcoming Shirui Lily Festival in two communities have been at loggerheads, resulting in widespread ethnic violence that has ravaged the state since May Police confirmed an FIR has been registered against Guite and stated that a search operation to nab him has been launched. "As regards to one Paojakhup Guite, President of KSO Delhi, who threatened the Meitei community in a video circulated on social media, an FIR has been registered. Raids are being conducted in nearby districts for his immediate arrest," Manipur Police said in a post on an effort to expedite the search, authorities have also reached out to police departments in neighbouring states — Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya — seeking assistance in locating and apprehending Guite."The police of neighbouring states of Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland & Meghalaya etc have been requested for arresting him as quickly as possible. All necessary security arrangements shall be made to ensure security of people attending the Shirui festival," the post further security has been heightened ahead of the 5th Shirui Lily Festival, scheduled to take place from May 20 to 24 in Manipur's Ukhrul district. Law enforcement agencies have assured the public of robust security arrangements to ensure the festival proceeds peacefully and without Shirui Lily Festival, a state-level cultural celebration named after the rare Shirui Lily found in the region, is being held outside Imphal city for the first Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla recently chaired a preparatory meeting of the festival's organising facilitate public participation, the Manipur State Transport (MST) has announced special bus services from Imphal to Ukhrul from May 20 to 24. Three buses will operate daily between the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Imphal, and Shirui Public Ground, Ukhrul, with tickets priced at Rs 200 per continue to monitor the situation closely and have urged citizens to maintain peace and harmony during the festival ETHNIC VIOLENCEOn May 3, 2023, ethnic violence erupted in Manipur between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribal community from the surrounding hills following a High Court's order that recommended a Scheduled Tribe status for the dominant Meitei led to the death of nearly 250 people and 60,000 others were displaced. This decision was later criticised by the Supreme Watch IN THIS STORY#Manipur
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
FIR against Kuki student union president ‘for threatening' Meiteis
GUWAHATI: Manipur police have filed an FIR against Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Delhi and NCR president Paojakhup Guite after a video surfaced showing him threatening to block Meitei people from crossing buffer zones to attend next week's Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police launched a search to arrest Guite. Police in Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya have also been asked to assist in his arrest, officials said Saturday. The festival celebrates state flower Shirui Lily, found only in Tangkhul Naga-majority hills of Ukhrul. Police have assured protection for participants traveling to Ukhrul.
NDTV
17-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Cops In Northeast States Search For Kuki Student Leader In Manipur Hate Speech Case
Imphal/New Delhi: The police in Manipur and four other states in the northeast are searching for the leader of a student body of the Kuki tribes against whom a first information report (FIR) has been filed for allegedly giving a hate speech against members of the Meitei community. Paojakhup Guite of the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) in a public speech allegedly threatened Meiteis not to pass by Kuki settlements while going from the state capital Imphal valley to Ukhril district, the venue of the Shirui Lily Festival to be held from May 20 to 24. The police posted a screengrab of a video that showed Mr Guite holding a mic and addressing a roadside gathering in Kuki-dominant Churachandpur district in southern Manipur. In the video that surfaced on social media, the Kuki student leader spoke in his tribe's dialect. Mr Guite's whereabouts are unknown as at 5 pm on Saturday. "As regards to one Paojakhup Guite, Prez KSO Delhi threats (in a video ) to the Meitei, to not allow to cross the buffer zone to attend the upcoming Shirui Festival in Ulhrul [sic], which is circulated in social media since yesterday, CC Pur police has registered an FIR and all efforts including raid etc in nearby Distts are being made for his immediate arrest," the Manipur Police said in the post on X. "The police of neighbouring States of Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland & Meghalaya etc have been requested for arresting him as quickly as possible. All necessary security arrangements shall be made to ensure security of people attending the Shirui festival," the police said. As regards to one Paojakhup Guite, Prez KSO Delhi threats (in a video ) to the Meitei, to not allow to cross the buffer zone to attend the upcoming Shirui Festival in Ulhrul, which is circulated in social media since yesterday, CC Pur police has registered an FIR and all efforts... — Manipur Police (@manipur_police) May 17, 2025 The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) and the KSO in separate statements alleged selective application of criminal law by the police, and questioned why no Meitei who allegedly gave hate speeches have not been arrested. KOHUR is also the petitioner in the audio tapes case linked to former chief minister N Biren Singh. "Mr. Guite's recent public address in Churachandpur - where he critically questioned the true motives behind the organisation of the Shirui Lily Festival - highlighted valid concerns about deliberate encroachments on demarcated buffer zones, which were established to maintain peace amid a devastating ethnic conflict. His words echoed the deeply rooted fears of the Kuki people, who have long endured state apathy, systemic exclusion, and institutionalised discrimination," the KSO (Delhi and NCR) said in the statement. "This is not an isolated episode. It is symptomatic of a larger, deeply entrenched system of state-sponsored persecution that deliberately targets Kuki voices, shields hate speech from dominant groups, and exacerbates the already fragile communal fault lines in Manipur. The law is being weaponised to suppress dissent and terrorise a marginalised population into silence," the Kuki students' body said. Meitei groups alleged Kuki organisations are trying to cover up, play "victim card" and sugarcoat Mr Guite's hate speech in which he allegedly called for harming members of the Meitei community who pass by Kuki villages on their way to Ukhrul district. They also pointed at alleged twisting of a Meitei professor's words in a news debate to make it seem like hate speech, when the professor only said "Kuki terrorists" and not referred to the community as a whole in calling for action. "This dangerous and hate-filled speech must be met with the strictest legal consequences. Mr. Guite is a habitual offender. Delhi Police reportedly registered an FIR against him in March 2025... The Shirui Lily Festival... is a celebration of cultural heritage, nature, and unity. The Meitei community's participation in this festival symbolises inclusivity and harmony," the civil group Meitei Heritage Society (MHS) said in a statement. "It is pertinent to note that this open call for violence is a direct consequence of repeated failures of the authorities to enforce the rule of law... both the state and central authorities have consistently failed to act decisively. Mr Guite's act is a manifestation of these lapses that has emboldened extremists like this individual to act with impunity and mock the institutions of the Indian State," the MHS said. Meitei social media users have also tagged the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Kerala's Kozhikode, with screenshots showing Mr Guite thanking the business school for offering him admission to a PhD programme in management. The Manipur Tourism Department says the Shirui Lily Festival is themed on the state's rare flower and it seeks to foster sustainable and responsible tourism across the state. It says the event also serves to raise awareness about the endangered Shirui Lily, a botanical treasure found exclusively in Manipur's Shirui Hills in Ukhrul district, the state's highest hill station some 83 km east of Imphal and home to the Tangkhul Nagas. Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Singh went to Ukhrul for two days last week to oversee security arrangements for the festival. The state which is under the President's rule has assured it would provide security for members of all communities who want to attend the Shirui Lily Festival. The Kuki tribes and the Meiteis have been fighting since May 2023 over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation. Over 260 have been killed and 50,000 internally displaced by the violence. On Friday, Kuki civil society organisations and MLAs announced they will no longer engage with the government unless it resumes "substantive political dialogue" with the two umbrella organisations that represent 25 militant groups - the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF). The KNO and the UPF have signed the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre and the state government.
