Manipur: Meitei man rescued in Kangpokpi during Kuki-Zo Separation Day
On October 3, 2025, security forces rescued Soyam Sanayamba Thomas (35), a Meitei man from Thamnapokpi village (Imphal East), who had strayed into Twinomjang village, Kangpokpi district, during the observance of Kuki-Zo Separation Day. The man was safely handed over to his family. The rescue comes amid a 12-hour shutdown imposed by Kuki groups and restricted movement zones between Meitei valley and Kuki hill areas, intensified by ongoing ethnic tensions since May 2023.
- Name: Soyam Sanayamba Thomas, aged 35.
- Origin: Thamnapokpi village, under Yaingangpokpi police station (Imphal East district).
- Location when rescued: He had reached Twinomjang village in Kangpokpi district, which is in the Kuki hill terrain.
FAQs - Q1: Who was the person rescued and where was he from?
- A1: The rescued person is Soyam Sanayamba Thomas, aged 35, from Thamnapokpi village, Imphal East (Yaingangpokpi PS).
- Q2: Where was he rescued from, and under what context?
- A2: He was rescued from Twinomjang village, Kangpokpi district, during observance of Kuki-Zo Separation Day, when shutdowns and movement restrictions were in force.
- Q3: Why was his presence in Kangpokpi risky?
- A3: Because Kill-Zo groups observe separation day with territorial assertions and movement restrictions; Meitei civilians are often de facto restricted from entering Kuki-dominated zones amid ethnic tensions.
- Q4: What security forces were involved in the rescue?
- A4: The rescue was carried out by central paramilitary personnel, along with Manipur police, in a special operation.
- Q5: What does this incident signify about movement and identity in Manipur today?
- A5: It highlights that mobility is increasingly regulated by ethnic control, that entering “other zones” entails risk, and that rescues may become as politically symbolic as they are humanitarian.
