New Delhi: The Manipur government has retracted its alarming assertion that 900 militants crossed into the state from Myanmar – a claim that had ignited unrest among the Meitei community in Imphal.
In a joint statement issued by Manipur’s Director General of Police, Rajiv Singh, and security advisor, Kuldiep Singh, officials aimed to clarify the situation following the outcry.
The statement acknowledged initial intelligence reports regarding the infiltration of trained Kuki militants but emphasised, “The input was verified from different quarters, but it could not be substantiated on the ground. There is currently no basis to believe in any such input.”
The government also reassured citizens that security forces were on high alert and urged communities to remain vigilant against rumours and misinformation.
Despite these reassurances, the initial claims had already caused significant damage. Fear rippled through the Meitei population, leading residents to mobilise and patrol their villages. The Meira Paibi, known as the “torchbearers” of Manipur for their grassroots activism, stepped up their vigilance, increasing their presence in the neighbourhoods.
The confusion began last week when Singh, overseeing the unified command in Manipur, stated during a press conference on September 20 that 900 Kuki militants had entered the Imphal Valley. His remarks sparked widespread panic, with many accusing the government of not only inciting unrest but also mishandling the security situation.
Three days later, the Hindu reported that on September 22, the Army, via a social media post, requested details from Singh regarding intelligence on the alleged entry of 900 Kuki militants from Myanmar. However, the post on X was subsequently deleted.
A post on X by the Spear Corps of the Indian Army stated, “These inputs have very serious security implications, and the office of the Security Adviser has been requested to share the details so that appropriate necessary action can be taken at the earliest.” According to the Hindu, Singh received this information from the chief minister’s office, raising further questions about his role in the matter.
Manipur Congress president Meghachandra sharply criticised both the state and central governments, warning that their actions could lead to a crisis reminiscent of the violence that erupted on May 3. He accused the leadership of failing to maintain law and order and exacerbating divisions within the state’s communities. “The DGP, Chief Secretary, and Security Advisor all were appointed by the central government. If they are spreading fake news, they should resign immediately,” he stated, following the Manipur government’s reversal of its gathered intelligence about the Kuki militants
‘No law and order in Manipur’
Meghachandra also said “The prime minister doesn’t care, and Biren is unaware of his own powers. He appoints someone for unified command and then asks for the power back. There is no law and order in Manipur, and both governments have failed completely,” he said. He further questioned the central government’s silence on a matter of national security. “I believe this government has created more division within the Kuki community, and now peace talks seem far off to me,” he added, highlighting how the state’s fragile peace process has been further destabilised.
Earlier, E-Pao, an Imphal-based news portal, reported that every meeting of the unified command is chaired by the chief minister and his permission is required to convene any meeting in his absence. An Army source confirmed to The Wire that Singh made his statements without receiving any intelligence from central forces but from the chief minister’s office.
During a press briefing on September 20, Singh referenced a meeting held on September 18 at the chief secretary’s conference hall, where he claimed inputs about the militant incursion were shared with both central and state forces. However, an Army source contradicted this, telling The Wire that the issue was discussed however “due to the lack of evidence there was no consensus on its veracity.”
Adding to the controversy, Singh had claimed that 200 Kuki militants entered the state with plans to attack on September 28. Following Singh’s statement, unrest spread across the Imphal Valley.
Sources revealed that Singh flew from Imphal on September 24, a day before the joint clarification was issued, reportedly summoned by central leadership to explain the basis of his claims, given the matter’s implications for national security. However, if 900 Kuki militants have already ‘entered’ Imphal, the unified commander should have been present in the state.
It is also being noted that the chief minister’s office released the information in a statement on September 16, which was confirmed by Singh on September 20, before it was retracted on September 25. During this period of 10 days, no statement came from the Union defence or external affairs ministries despite the issue being related to national security.
However, on September 17, a day after the CMO’s statement, while addressing the media on the Modi government’s 100 days in office, Union home minister Amit Shah had emphasised that the government had completed 30 kilometres of fencing along the Manipur-Myanmar border, with the CRPF deployed at critical points to prevent infiltration. Shah also mentioned that the previous agreement between India and Myanmar, allowing movement between the two nations, had been nullified with entry now restricted to visa holders only.
Paolienlal Haokip, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Manipur said that the government is trying to shift focus from the viral audio tape of chief minister Biren Singh where he can be heard making communally divisive and inflammatory remarks. Haokip in a tweet said, “Meaning that such sensitive ‘input’ was all meant to deflect attention away from the audio clips where the mastermind incriminated himself? Shame.”
The Wire reached out to both DGP Rajiv Singh and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh for comment. While the DGP declined to respond, directing inquiries to the security advisor, The Wire is still awaiting Singh’s reply. The story will be updated if further information becomes available.
The Wire has reached out to Singh with the following questions:
- When home minister Amit Shah stated that the CRPF was preventing infiltration along the border, on what basis did you claim that 900 Kuki militants had crossed into Manipur?
- Given the national security implications of such a statement, did you consult the MHA before making your announcement to the media?
- Now that you have retracted your statement, do you believe you have contributed to unrest between the Kuki and Meitei communities?
- Were you called by the Delhi leadership regarding this matter, and did you retract the statement after discussing it with them?
Unrest in Manipur following Singh’s statement
Following Singh’s alarming announcement, Imphal’s residents felt compelled to take up arms to defend their villages. Chanthoi, a leader of the Meira Paibi movement, expressed her frustration, saying, “Instead of making such a statement, he should have taken decisive steps to strengthen security measures or intercept the militants. His announcement has created widespread insecurity, forcing people to prepare for the worst. Now, he’s backtracking as if it’s a trivial matter – it’s incredibly irresponsible. They’re treating the Manipur crisis like a comedy show, where every official comes up and performs their act.”
Chanthoi also questioned the credibility of the government’s intelligence. “The announcement was bizarre. How could 900 militants enter India to attack Meiteis in Manipur when Assam Rifles are deployed along all border areas?” she asked.
Later, the house of a Kuki priest, the last to vacate the Kuki-dominated area of New Lambulane in Imphal, was razed by unidentified militants, the Hindustan Times reported.
While the Kuki group called for a complete shutdown on September 28, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) issued a press notice calling for a total shutdown in Kuki-Zo areas. They have advised people to stay indoors and be vigilant. The notice comes in light of recent threats of a possible Meitei attack. The ITLF has also urged all security personnel to remain vigilant in order to thwart any outside attacks.
Zo community calls for central intervention
The Zo community has been in turmoil ever since Singh’s statement, prompting urgent calls for intervention from the Union government. On September 25, just before the Manipur government reversed its stance, the Manipur Tribal Forum held a press conference where they condemned the state leadership’s actions. “The Kuki-Zomi-Hmar people have endured decades of marginalisation, political suppression, and now, baseless allegations aimed at further discrediting our legitimate demands for autonomy and justice,” the forum declared.
“We call on the national government to intervene and address the bias and injustices perpetuated by the Meitei-majority leadership in Manipur. The documents appended to this press note provide a comprehensive rebuttal to the falsehoods and present the truth behind the ongoing ethnic and political conflict.”
The fallout from the initial claims also led to tension in Churachandpur, where Manipur DGP, Rajiv Singh was on a visit to help ease unrest among the Zo community. During his visit, the Kuki-Zo community confronted him over the inflammatory intelligence reports.
Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) leader U. Mangboi, who once resided in Imphal’s Chassed Avenue, met with the DGP and demanded accountability. Speaking to The Wire, Mangboi explained, “We took the opportunity to demand that Kuldiep Singh either apologise or provide a clear explanation. We compelled him to address the issue directly with officials in Delhi.”
The encounter underscores the growing frustration within the Zo community, which feels increasingly marginalised by the state government’s handling of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. With claims of Kuki militants entering Imphal now publicly questioned, the Zo community’s leaders are pressing for transparency and a more equitable approach from both the state and central governments.
Questions over Singh’s leadership amid growing tensions
Civil society organisations representing both the Meitei and Kuki communities are voicing serious concerns about SIngh’s role in managing Manipur’s unified command, particularly in light of the recent claims.
Khuraijam Athouba, a key figure in COCOMI, a leading Meitei civil society organisation in Imphal, took to social media to express frustration with India’s intelligence apparatus. “In simple terms, the intelligence network in India appears to be ineffective, as authorities struggle to verify reports of infiltrators on the ground,” he posted on X. “Armed infiltrators blend into local populations, often with the support of insiders waging war against indigenous people. Despite reports since 1962 of refugee waves, none have been identified on the ground, and most have integrated into local communities, making infiltration possible despite police claims.”
In my simple understanding:
It is becoming increasingly clear that India’s intelligence network is significantly lacking in effectiveness. Although reports and inputs exist, the authorities have been unable to verify them on the ground. It’s obvious that armed infiltrators will… https://t.co/PFV9CexmR0— Khuraijam Athouba (@Paari_Athouba) September 26, 2024
Athouba also raised concerns about a larger, hidden agenda, saying, “There’s concern that the Indian government may be playing psychological games with rogue elements and using proxies to advance hidden agendas.” He criticised the handling of sensitive issues, particularly the lack of tangible proof regarding alleged infiltrators, which has created distrust among locals.
On the other side, Churachandpur-based ITLF has also slammed the Manipur government for fuelling communal tensions. ITLF spokesperson Ginza criticised the CMO and Singh for releasing unverified information about the Kuki militants. “This report has sparked communal tension and fear among both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities,” Ginza said, adding, that in response, Kuki-Zo organisations had issued public advisories, including school closures, restricted movement and heightened village patrols.
“If any incidents occur due to this report, the CM’s office and the security advisor will be held responsible for releasing such sensitive information. Now that they realise their report lacks truth, they have retracted it,” Ginza continued, calling the Manipur government “highly unreliable” and suggesting that the security report was “politically motivated with no factual basis.”
A Meitei civil society group, Meitei Heritage Society, based in Delhi also echoed these sentiments, telling The Wire, “These developments demonstrate the disturbing breakdown of coordination and communication between security agencies in the state, which armed groups have taken advantage of to prolong the violence. The failure of the central and state governments over the last 16 months to contain this unrest has allowed the crisis to fester, leading to the tragic loss of 13 security personnel at the hands of suspected Kuki militants.”
The Wire has also reached out to the office of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, seeking clarification on the source of the unverified information and whether the Home Ministry was consulted before such claims were made public. This story will be updated if and when a response is received. Below are the questions sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
- Did the Chief Minister direct Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh to confirm to the press that 900 Kuki militants have entered Manipur.
- What was the source of the information that led to the claim about 900 Kuki militants entering Manipur? Was this intelligence vetted by state or central agencies?
- Did the chief minister’s office consult with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) or any central authorities before making the public announcement? If so, what inputs were received?
- In light of the joint statement retracting the initial claim that 900 Kuki militants entered Manipur and planned an attack on September 28, does the chief minister’s office acknowledge that this announcement may have contributed to unrest in the region?
- Why was the initial claim made despite no confirmation from central forces? Was the chief minister involved in instructing or approving the statement made by Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh?
- What steps is the state government taking to prevent the spread of unverified information regarding sensitive security matters in the future?
- Does the chief minister’s office accept responsibility for potentially exacerbating tensions between the two communities with this announcement?
- On September 17, Union home minister Amit Shah stated that the MHA is in contact with both groups to restore peace. Don’t you think the chief minister’s office has undermined these peace efforts by contributing to unrest with such claims?
- How is the state government ensuring that relations between the Kuki and Meitei communities remain stable in the wake of this announcement and its subsequent retraction?
