TO
THE COMMISSIONER, SURMA VALLEY AND HILL DISTRICTS,
(THROUGH THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, NAGA HILLS).
SIR,
We the undernoted Kuki political prisoners of the Kohima Jail most humbly and respectfully beg to approach your honour with the following prayer for your honour’s kind and favourable order.
Mr. Higgins the then Political Agent in Manipur has passed an order upon us in 1917 that each village of the Kukis to supply one coolie for each two houses. The Manipuri Limbas come to inform us the above order and at the same time they told us that, if we pay some money to them and Nithur Babu, they will tell Sahib something so that Sahib will not call coolies on the pretext of France service. They also told us that all men are dying who went to France. So some of us paid some money to Manipuri Limbas and Nithur Babu.
Some days after we some of the Rajas consulted and sent a letter to the Political Agent requesting him to come and meet us at Akton.
The Political Agent came there and we gave Rs. 1,500, 3 gongs and one mithan as salam and requested him not to call coolie from us as it is the custom of the Kukis to bring the head of the dead man wherever he died. The Political Agent then ordered that all the guns to be made over to him and pay
Rs. 10 per house as house-tax. We then told in reply that we the Kukis helped the Government when the Government was fighting with Cachar, Khonoma, Manipur, Sukti, Poi, Lushai and Abor. We requested him to execuse us this instance. The Political Agent then ordered us not to stop any Kukis who are willing to go and other Naga tribes and we agreed to his orders. The Political Agent wanted to give us some 'Rum' but some of Kukis ran away thinking that if any one drink 'Rum' he will be inclinded to go to France. This information was circulated by the Manipuri Limbus when they came to inform us the Political Agent's order for calling coolies for service in France. The Political Agent seeing some of Kukis running away, he grew angry and said that he will consult again about this matter after two months.
Then about three months after, the Political Agent burnt the Mombi Kuki village without calling us to consult again as previously arranged. About 15 days after burning the Mombi village, Chinga Khamba SanaChauba Singh Manipuri came to Wokha and called the following villages, viz., Hinglep, Mombi, Lungja, Sangphu, Nevil, Jingkai, Khabang, Phaibong, Jownai and Gowthang; and said that the Kingdom of the British is coming about an end now and wants his people to be killed at the same place with them. Chinga Khamba Sana Chauba Singh also told us that he has got three companies of sepoys and 8 men who are very expert in using swords. If any KUki villages do not obey my orders he is my enemy. Government takes Rs. 3 per house as house-tax but I will take only Re. 1 per house. You the Kukis to kill the Chaukidars of Dak-Banglow and cut off the telegraph lines and I will attack the Government at Imphal, then the Government caannot do anything to us. He also gave us orders to kill Chullu Nagas at once who killed our men before, unless he will not allow us any more when he will become a Raja.
Rajah of Wokha proposed to make peace with the Government giving some of his mithans and so he sent out about 12 men to bring his mithans at Kongvoy. But the sepoys shot at them. Wehn we got this news we also fought with the Government thinking that Chinga Khamba Sana Chauba Singh was fighting with the Government in Manipur.
Under the above circumstances we wrongfully fought with the Government on account of deceitful conduct of Manipuri Limbus and Ching Kamba Sana Chauba Singh. When we understood this, we ourselves came to make peace with the Government. The Government did not capture us. We now request the mercy of the Government to forgive us this time. We affirm that we will never do like this in future. We are ready to go anywhere to help our Government with our men or money in any way whenever Government needs.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
-
CHENJAPO.
-
KHUTINTHANG.
-
PACHEI.
-
NGULKHUP.
-
LEOTHANG.
-
HELASHOM (HELJASHON).
-
MANGKOON.
-
TINDONG (TINTONG).
-
PAKANG.
-
SEMCHUNG.
-
NGUL KHUKAL.
-
ENJAKUP.
Left thumb impressions of 12 political prisoners named in this page taken in my presence.
18th May 1919.
G. C. DAS,
Assistant Jailor, Kohima.
Countersigned,
12th May 1919.
J. S. RYNJAH,
Superintendent of Jail, Kohima.
Kuki Inpi War Memorial: Kuki Freedom Fighters
List of KUKI Freedom Fighters
Indian Independence & Forgotten Role of Kukis in INA 1942
Freedom Fighters: The Forgotten Sacrifice of the Kukis in Manipur
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