“This is a betrayal of justice”: ITLF, COTU Condemn Manipur Governor’s Meeting with Arambai Tenggol

"This is a betrayal of justice and an insult to those who have lost their loved ones," the Kuki-Zo leaders said.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) have strongly condemned Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s recent engagement with Arambai Tenggol, a group accused of orchestrating brutal attacks against the Kuki-Zo community.

In a joint statement, ITLF and COTU criticized the meeting, asserting that it legitimizes a group responsible for mass killings, forced displacement, and large-scale destruction.

The condemnation follows Arambai Tenggol’s surrender of 240 looted arms on Thursday, a figure that accounts for only 5% of the estimated 6,000 weapons stolen from the Imphal Valley.

The Kuki-Zo leadership dismissed the move as a calculated public relations stunt, aimed at improving the group’s image in the wake of their controversial meeting with the Governor.

“This token gesture is a strategic move to reshape their image while the suffering of our people remains ignored,” the leaders stated.

The Kuki-Zo leadership said that Arambai Tenggol is responsible for a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing. Since the conflict erupted, more than 230 Kuki-Zo people have been killed, over 40,000 displaced, 7,000 homes reduced to ashes, and 360 places of worship desecrated. Reports of sexual violence against Kuki-Zo women have further underscored the horrors inflicted by the militia.

Despite these atrocities, the Governor’s meeting with Arambai Tenggol signals a disturbing shift, raising concerns that the state is engaging with perpetrators of violence rather than protecting victims.

“This is a betrayal of justice and an insult to those who have lost their loved ones,” the Kuki-Zo leaders said..

The ITLF and COTU have reiterated that coexistence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities has become impossible, citing deep-rooted mistrust and systemic violence.

They have issued a firm demand for a separate administration, calling on the Government of India to establish a Union Territory (UT) under Article 239A of the Constitution.

“The only viable solution is total separation. The continued subjugation of the Kuki-Zo under a hostile administration will only fuel more unrest. We urge the Government of India to act before it is too late,” the leaders warned.

KIM Accuses State of Complicity in Ethnic Violence:
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) also issued a strong condemnation, calling the meeting “a dangerous legitimization of terror.”

KIM questioned why the Governor met with Tyson Ngangbam (Korounganba), a key Arambai Tenggol commander under NIA investigation, arguing that this signals state complicity rather than accountability.

KIM called out the administration’s selective application of justice and raised serious concerns about state complicity in shielding perpetrators of ethnic violence. The organization posed several critical questions that highlight the deep-rooted bias in Manipur’s handling of the ongoing conflict.

They also highlighted law enforcement’s selective action, pointing out that while over 5,000 weapons and lakhs of rounds of ammunition were looted in 2023, no major investigation has taken place. In contrast, incidents involving the Kuki-Zo community have been swiftly pursued.

KIM further slammed the CBI’s inaction on crimes against Kuki-Zo people, including the public stripping of Kuki-Zo women and the beheading of David Thiek, while cases from the Meitei-dominated valley have been prioritised.

The organization also raised concerns over Meitei activist Licypriya Kangujam, who allegedly procured drones used in attacks against Kuki-Zo settlements, yet faces no legal action, whereas a Kuki youth was swiftly arrested for a similar charge.

The Kuki Inpi accused the Manipur Governor of undermining the credibility of the administration by engaging with terror-linked groups while ignoring the victims of violence.

“The selective targeting of the Kuki-Zo community while shielding others is a gross miscarriage of justice,” KIM said.

KIM has demanded immediate intervention from the Government of India to investigate and prosecute those responsible for crimes against the Kuki-Zo people.

The Kuki-Zo leaders have vowed to fight against state-sanctioned discrimination, demand accountability, and push for their rightful self-governance.

Also Read: Former Manipur CM N Biren Singh appreciates Arambai Tengol’s decision to hand over weapons

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