Guwahati: Brutal killings of a Thadou community leader sparks anger in Assam. Thadou Inpi (TI), Karbi Students’ Association (KSA), Dimasa Students’ Union (DSU), Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) and Thadou Women’s Association (TWA) jointly condemn the killing of Thadou leader Nehkam Jomhao on August 30, 2025 by Kuki militant groups-the KRA, UKDA, and KLA-at his home in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. His body was reportedly mutilated and is still missing.
Seven Kuki militants have been arrested by Assam police. Sources said that they have confessed to the crime in police interrogation, but the leaders of the militant groups, the masterminds, have not yet been apprehended. Two of the arrested are from Manipur state joining the Kuki militant groups and carrying out the most inhumane crime.
Deceased Jomhao was part of a Thadou delegation that attended a “Road to Peace” community understanding meeting at Imhal on August 6, 2025. “Thadou Inpi has clarified that the Thadou delegates did not represent Kuki community as Thadous are not Kukis. Despite this, Kuki groups issued a series of social boycotts, violent threats, and hate campaigns against the Thadou delegates. The Thadou community has been facing regular abuse and threats from Kuki groups, who believe they are above the law and can abuse, assault, and kill anyone without consequences. Many Kukis openly celebrate it and warn of more such killings to Thadou.”, the joint statement reads.
The long-standing peaceful relationship between the Karbi, Dimasa and Thadou communities, as well as the peace of the region, has been greatly disturbed by the presence of Kuki militants. The village of Manja in Karbi Anglong district, where the killing occurred, holds historical significance because it was gifted by the Karbis to the Thadous during the Kuki-Thadou violence of 1992-1993. Tragically, Jomhao’s own brother was also a victim of Kuki aggression during that time.
The killing is part of a “cultural genocide” and a long-standing pattern of persecution of Thaodus by Kuki supremacist groups, they said.
“We have serious concerns about the rise of violence and lawlessness due to the presence of supremacist Kuki radical groups in Assam, which have sparked ethnic violence in the past, notably the Kuki-Thadou violence during 1992-1993 and the Kuki-Karbi clash in 2003.”, the statement said. The organisations demand the arrest of all masterminds and individuals involved in the murder, including the leaders of the Kuki militant groups (KRA, UKDA, and KLA) and Recovery of Nehkam Jomhao’s body as quickly as possible.
