Kuki Students Organisation KSO Condemns Case Against Uday Reddy Indian-Origin Professor

Uday Reddy’s presentation of unbiased views and historical context of both the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur has been praised by the Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO). The KSO stated that Reddy’s objective and factual discourse has threatened Meitei propagandists who have been unable to counter his truths with their misinformation. They clarified that Reddy’s activism on social media aims to shed light on the complex truths surrounding the Manipur violence and is not about vilifying the Meitei community. However, a notice on Reddy’s profile page on X (formerly Twitter) shows that his account has been “withheld in India in response to a legal demand,” which is usually in response to a court order according to X policy.

The KSO believes that the complaint against Reddy is an attempt to silence him and prevent him from further enlightening the Kuku youth. They called for the authorities to recognize the complaint as a tactic to suppress the voice of truth and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the complaint as well as an end to such unjust actions against individuals seeking to bring to light the realities of Manipur. The complainant in the FIR has requested Indian authorities to contact Reddy’s workplace and inform them about the alleged criminal acts committed by him against India, and to issue a lookout circular (LOC) to monitor his entry and exit points in India. An LOC is used to prevent anyone with a criminal record or wanted in an investigation from leaving India.

This incident is not the first time the account of a professor abroad has been withheld by X over a legal demand in India – Sweden-based Indian-origin professor Ashok Swain faced a similar situation in August 2023. Ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes in May 2023, resulting in over 220 deaths and nearly 50,000 internally displaced persons.