The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) strongly condemned the Imphal Free Press (IFP) newspaper for its fake report about gunfights in tribal areas of Manipur, which was published on Sunday.
In its press condemnation issued on Monday, ITLF Spokesperson, Ginza Vualzong said: "IFP has turned into a propaganda machine for radical Meiteis during the conflict as it has no hesitation in publishing not just biased stories but concocted lies, a far cry from its stated purpose of providing an "unbiased public service".
The report on Sunday talks about a "deadly clash" between Kuki and Paite militants in Churachandpur (Lamka) and Sangaikot, where "guns and snipers" were used during street battles in civilian areas.
ITLF stated that the recent publication of the fake news was not the first time that IFP has published such fake stories. It ran a similar news item in June about fighting between ZRA and Kuki militants in Chiengkonpang, Lamka, it said and added that such "news" was totally fictional.
The Paites, Kukis and many other tribes work together under ITLF, and fake propaganda from the Meitei community will not lead to fractures within the Kuki-Zo tribal community, ITLF asserted.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
