Source: TH
Context:
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has reiterated its demand for a separate Union Territory (UT) for the Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur, citing continued insecurity and loss of faith in the State administration following the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. The demand was conveyed to Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, through a memorandum submitted after a mass rally in Churachandpur district.
What is the Kuki-Zo Council?
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) is an umbrella socio-political organisation representing the Kuki-Zo tribal groups mainly in Manipur, and parts of Mizoram and Assam. It functions as a collective negotiating and coordinating platform for political, administrative, and security-related issues affecting the Kuki-Zo people.
Who are the Kuki-Zo?
- An umbrella ethnolinguistic grouping that includes Kuki, Zo (Zomi), and related tribes
- Predominantly Scheduled Tribes
- In Manipur, they mainly inhabit hill districts such as:
- Churachandpur
- Kangpokpi
- Pherzawl
- Tengnoupal
