Top Manipur Officials Dispute CMO’s Claim of Over 900 Kuki Militants Entering from Myanmar

Top officials in Manipur have refuted the CMO's claim of over 900 Kuki militants entering from Myanmar, stating the report lacks substantiation. In response, Kuki groups have declared a shutdown, calling the claim a government fabrication aimed at justifying violence against the Kuki-Zo community.

Manipur's security landscape has become contentious as top officials dispute the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) claim of over 900 Kuki militants infiltrating from Myanmar. This assertion stemmed from a leaked intelligence report on September 17, suggesting that these militants, equipped with advanced training in drone-based warfare, had organized themselves into units of 30 and were poised for coordinated attacks.

Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh issued a joint statement clarifying that the intelligence claim could not be substantiated on the ground. Following this, the CMO retracted its earlier assertion, highlighting the need for accuracy in security matters amid escalating ethnic tensions in the region.

The intelligence report indicated that these militants were expected to launch attacks on Meitei villages around September 28, prompting heightened security alerts in border areas. However, following the officials' clarification, the statement reassured citizens about their safety and urged them to dismiss rumors.

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In response to the leaked report, Kuki organizations in Manipur declared a shutdown in tribal-dominated areas, contesting the validity of the claim and asserting it was a government tactic to justify potential violence against the Kuki-Zo community. The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) condemned the report as baseless and called for a complete shutdown on September 28 to prevent potential attacks.