New Delhi, June 21: The Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC) has issued a strong rebuke to The Hindu and East Mojo, accusing the two media outlets of publishing “unverified and misleading” reports on the June 19 killing of a Kuki woman in Manipur’s Churachandpur district.
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Both reports attributed the incident to “suspected Meitei militants,” quoting statements from the Kuki Women’s Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR). However, according to the official version released by the Manipur Police, the woman died during an exchange of fire between security forces and unidentified armed miscreants. The operation was launched in response to the earlier shooting of a Meitei farmer, Ningthoujam Biren Singh, who was wounded while working in his paddy field at Phubala in Bishnupur district.
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The police report makes no mention of Meitei involvement and confirms that the fatality occurred during a retaliatory operation by security forces. The woman was later identified as Mrs. Hoikholhing Haokip, the wife of the village chief of Langchingmanbi.
Despite this, The Hindu and East Mojo published reports attributing the killing to “suspected Meitei militants,” quoting a statement from the Kuki Women’s Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR). The DMCC has sharply criticized this reportage, arguing that neither outlet sought confirmation from state authorities before publishing such “incendiary claims.”
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The DMCC also took issue with the use of the term “buffer zone” in the media coverage, clarifying that there is no such government-declared zone in Manipur. “The state refers to certain areas as ‘sensitive zones,’ not buffer zones,” it stated.
A confidential internal agreement, acknowledged by administrative and community representatives, confirms that a non-civilian party has admitted responsibility for the woman’s death. The agreement includes customary settlement terms accepted by the victim’s family. With the family accepting the terms, a total shutdown that had been enforced in Churachandpur has officially been called off.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Lok Sabha MP Prof. Bimol Akoijam visited the site of the incident in Bishnupur district. His visit signals concern at the highest level and underscores the need for factual reporting.
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The DMCC has called on The Hindu and East Mojo to issue immediate corrections and has demanded that media outlets refrain from publishing statements from conflict parties without official verification.
“Would The Hindu or East Mojo publish a press statement from any organization without cross-checking it with police or government sources?” the DMCC asked in its statement. “Journalistic ethics demand verification, not sensationalism. Manipur needs peace, not propaganda.”