CoTU Slams State Home Department for Biased Response, Vows to Oppose Further Operations

The Committee on Tribal Unity has condemned the recent press release by the state Home Department, accusing the government of selective outrage and biased handling of the ongoing conflict. The Committee expressed deep disappointment over the administration’s fixation on the Koutruk incident while ignoring the relentless violence perpetrated by Meitei militants and affiliated groups, who have been using drones, bombs, and military-grade mortars against Kuki-Zo civilians.

The Kuki-Zo community has consistently highlighted that Meitei militants, including groups like Arambai Tenggol, have been launching attacks with advanced weaponry, which even Chief Minister N. Biren Singh admitted to in a viral audio recording aired on national news channels. The Committee criticized the state government’s narrative as a deliberate attempt to appease the valley community by wrongfully branding the Kuki-Zo as terrorists, despite their efforts to defend against an ambush by Meitei militants on the Kangpokpi-Churachandpur route on September 1, 2024.

Labeling the state’s actions as a “biased and insensitive assessment,” the Committee warned that the Kuki-Zo community will fiercely resist any combined operations ordered by the Home Department. The Committee also called out mainstream TV news channels, urging them to verify their sources and ensure impartial reporting to avoid spreading misinformation.