Manipur Security Officials Refute CMO’s Claim of 900 Kuki Militants, Retract Statement Amid Backlash

On September 17, a leaked intelligence report from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) claimed that “over 900 Kuki militants have entered Manipur from Myanmar.” However, on Wednesday evening, Manipur’s security advisor Kuldiep Singh and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh issued a joint statement refuting the CMO’s assertion, stating that it “could not be sustained on the ground,” as reported by The Indian Express. Following this clarification, the CMO retracted its earlier statement.

The initial report suggested that these militants were newly trained in drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles, and jungle warfare, and were organized into units of 30. It further indicated that they were “scattered on the periphery” and expected to launch coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around September 28.

In response to the intelligence input, security advisor Kuldiep Singh announced on September 20 that security agencies, particularly the Assam Rifles, were placed on high alert in the hill districts bordering Myanmar. He noted that this issue had been discussed in a Strategic Operation Group meeting that included top officials from various security forces, including the Army, Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, and state police.

Kuldiep Singh’s remarks faced backlash from Kuki-Zo groups, with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum accusing him of promoting “devious propaganda to defame the Kuki-Zo people” and using it as a pretext for potential attacks on Kuki-Zo volunteers.

In their clarification, Manipur’s top security officials stated that while the intelligence input was verified from various sources, it could not be substantiated on the ground. They assured that security forces were on high alert to protect citizens’ lives and property and advised communities not to believe in rumors or unverified information. Following this joint statement, the CMO communicated with the Information and Public Relations Department and security officials to retract its earlier claims.

In reaction to the initial intelligence report, several Kuki groups in Manipur called for a shutdown in tribal-dominated areas. Two apex Kuki bodies announced a total shutdown in all Kuki-inhabited regions, asserting that the government’s claim of 900 Kuki militants infiltrating the state was baseless.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), both based in Churachandpur, released statements on Tuesday declaring the report unfounded. The KIM described the CMO’s claims regarding the infiltration of trained Kuki militants and a coordinated attack on Meitei villages as entirely fabricated by the Manipur government to justify potential aggression against the Kuki-Zo community.

The organizations urged all Kuki individuals to stay home and avoid travel or work on September 27 and 28, announcing a complete shutdown on September 28 in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, which would be monitored by the Kuki Inpi and KSO. They also expressed concern about possible coordinated attacks on Kuki regions, advising Kuki-Zo village volunteers to bolster their positions in the ‘buffer zones.’