Debunking Meitei Lies: The Deadly Attack on the CRPF Personnel is Nothing But an Attempt to Cover-Up the Crime Against Humanity Committed in 12 Months

Since the beginning of the current ethnic cleansing campaign, which has been spearheaded largely by the Arambai Tenggols, the Imphal based Meitei media houses have become minting places of fake news, propaganda, and one-sided news alone. Any violent incidents involving armed men have been blamed on the “Kuki militants.”

Dissemination of such lies and fabricated information has been widely assisted by social media accounts handled by Meiteis and those sympathetic towards the dominant community. One simple example was how the Kuki militants were accused of committing the unfortunate incident at Lilong on New Year day where at least five Pangals (Manipur Muslims) were killed. And most of the national and international media houses who have been covering Manipur violence since May 3 are aware of this fact.

The manufacturing of fabricated news has been openly backed by state machineries including the DIPR, Manipur Police and the state government including the Meitei chief minister N. Biren Singh and some of his Meitei cabinet colleagues and legislators.

In a very unfortunate incident that occurred on the intervening night of 26 and 27 April 2024, two CRPF personnel were killed and another three were injured in a deadly attack on the CRPF personnel posted at the 2nd IRBn at Naranseina in Bishnupur district. However,

what is more unfortunate is that the one-sided narrative war often manufactured by these Meitei media houses reached another low as it was quickly spread as an act committed by “Kuki militants” even before conducting a preliminary inquiry.

Incidents in the past two weeks beginning with the brutal murdered of two Kuki village volunteers (KVV) at Phailengmol Area in Kangpokpi district on 13 April, whose dead bodies are yet to be recovered, have shown that the extremists section of the Meitei community is desperate on concealing their crimes. In that incident, the two innocent KVV were allegedly killed, or injured, in a heavy bomb attack carried out by the Bihar Regiment in connivance with the Arambai Tenggols with whom they had a friendly meeting and joint operation together prior to the incident. Videos have been widely shared on social media. It may be noted that while neutral central forces were posted in the area, no such unfortunate incident took place.

In the meantime, the first phase of the Lok Sabha poll, which covers the whole valley districts, was scheduled on 19 April. A few days before the poll, the Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and former BJYM President Barish Sharma and his gang, were actively engaged in various electoral malpractices including issuing dictates, disturbing election meetings for Congress candidate Dr. A. Bimol Akoijam and circulation of voice messages, all in favour of the BJP candidate. The series of incidents including gunshots near polling stations, the threatening of Congress workers, physical assault on voters and polling agents belonging to parties/candidates other than the BJP, and the alleged booth capturing in many polling stations, led to the destruction of EVMs and polling booths in many polling stations. This eventually resulted in a re- poll in 11 polling stations on 22 April.

Perhaps to continue their assault on the Kuki areas, and at the same time, to cover-up their numerous crimes, the Meitei armed militants have attacked Luwangsanggol & Phaileng villages along Gamgiphai border areas in Kangpokpi district, which is a border area with Sekmai in Imphal West district, for two consecutive days on 24-25 April. This was followed by another assault on the Sinam Kom areas of Saikul subdivision in Kangpokpi district on the afternoon of 26 April, the day the second phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections was held. It is worth noting that the news about the withdrawal of Central Forces from Gamgiphai area was vehemently opposed by the people of Kangpokpi, and a protest rally was held to stop them from leaving this strategic location on that very day.

In the evening, while the KVVs guarding the buffer zones in Sinam Kom & Thingsat areas remained alert contemplating another assault by the Meitei militants, an attack was carried out on the CRPF personnel posted in the 2nd IRBn at Naranseina at around 12:30 am. From the geographical point of view, Naranseina is a Meitei dominated locality, and for the alleged armed Kukis to carry out such a deadly attack, they must first pass through a few Meitei localities who are expected to be on high alert. Moreover, there are enough Central Forces including the Sikh Regiment nearby. So, it is simply illogical to assume that the “Kuki militants” would have carried out such an assault on the Central Forces whom they begged to continue guarding the buffer zones earlier in the day.

Moreover, these CRPF personnel are stationed alongside the IRB personnel who are presumed to be mostly from the Meitei community. Therefore, Kuki militants attacking the Central Forces and leaving the state forces untouched is simply absurd.

Notably, this IRB post has been under attack by armed Meitei militias along with unruly mobs on several occasions in the past. And this is why the Central Forces were stationed there to keep an eye on the movement of not only Meitei militants but also the violent mobs who may have made an attempt to loot the arms and ammunition anytime.

Mentioned may be made that, in one such attempt in August 2023, nearly 300 arms and thousands of ammunition were looted from the 2nd IRBn at Naranseina. In January this year, another attempt was made which resulted in a heavy exchange of fire between the Central Forces and Meitei Militants. In the said incident, a Meitei youth named Pebam Sanatoba was reportedly injured, who later succumbed to his injury on 20 January.

However, in total disregard of media ethics and ignoring the series of incidents that unfolded in the IRBn at Naranseina and elsewhere, the Meitei media starting from Imphal Free Press (IFP) directly pointed fingers on their favourite villain “Kuki militants” for carrying out the midnight assault on the CRPF. The dissemination of this particular fabricated news was done in a well- planned manner that even before the Kuki CSOs could react to this dastardly act, it reached many of the national media. Even the Manipur Police filed an FIR against unspecified “Kuki militants”.

However, after having learnt the real motive behind the dissemination of the said news, a few national media have edited their news item later, replacing the Meiteis’ favourite words “Kuki militants” to some other appropriate terms. For months, the national media have been thought to be aware of the unethical reporting often made by Meitei journalists, Manipur Police, and Imphal based Meitei media outlets. But this time, it was executed in such a well-orchestrated manner that many of the national media once again succumbed to the evil design of the Meiteis while wanting to sensationalise the unfortunate incident involving the loss of at least two Jawans with three others seriously injured.

Even while this piece is being written for publication, a large number of armed Meitei militants are reportedly moving towards the Kuki villages in Leimakhong, Kangchup and Thingsat areas with an aim to carry out a series of attacks. And, let me remind you all, the Meitei media, including social media handles, will always blame the “Kuki militants” for any firing incident that occurs in the border areas between the Kuki and the Meitei dominated areas.

While it is not unexpected that the Meiteis always put the blame on the Kukis for all the firing incidents in the buffer zones, it is slightly too far to believe that an incident that happened well within their territory was also blamed on the “Kuki militants.” In this regard, the national media houses are advised to cross- check their reports before believing in any input made by the Meiteis—be it the Manipur Police, DIPR, Imphal based Meitei medias, and Meitei journalists.

To sum up, the series of incidents that unfolded in the last two weeks or so, including the midnight assault on the CRPF personnel at Naranseina, is nothing but an attempt to divert the attention of the Meitei populace and the nation. In other words, all these attempts are not just to annihilate the minority Kuki tribals, but also to cover-up the crime against humanity they have committed all throughout during the last 12 months as the first anniversary, which falls on May 3, is approaching.