UKHRUL: Several Kuki and Zo organizations, including the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Kuki National Organization (KNO), and United People’s Front (UPF), have condemned the incident in Tronglaobi, Bishnupur District, Manipur, where two minor siblings were killed, and their mother was injured in an attack.
In a press statement, CoTU condemned the use of high-grade weaponry against innocent civilians in Tronglaobi, located in the buffer zone between Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts. They described this attack as being carried out by sectarian forces aiming to perpetuate discord and hatred between communities by once again holding the state to ransom.
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“The recent incident at Tronglaobi clearly undermines the hard-earned normalcy in the region following months of President’s Rule, perpetrated by radical forces who advocate hegemony and fascism to achieve their political goals,” stated CoTU.
Furthermore, CoTU, expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, urged valley-based media organizations to refrain from publishing news without verifying their sources. “Perhaps the tragic events of May 3, 2023, could have been averted or the situation diffused had the valley-based media adhered to journalistic ethics of fair and balanced reporting,” it added.
The committee also alleged that the use of hidden explosives, landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) is a clear indicator of the actions of VBIGs and Arambai Tenggols. They argued that there is no benefit for the Kuki-Zo individual in trespassing into Meitei-dominated areas. “The attack by a mob on the CRPF stationed in the buffer zone this morning is an attempt to cover up a more sinister agenda driven by individual political interests,” they asserted.
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CoTU has called on the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent radical forces from inciting hatred and animosity within all communities in the future.
The United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO) have also condemned the incident, while urging media houses to avoid naming any particular community as responsible under unverified circumstances. The organisations express sincere condolences to the bereaved families.