Northeast Desk, 24th October: The Kuki Inpi of Tengnoupal district has expressed strong disapproval of the police commandos, accusing them of wrongly labeling three arrested Myanmar nationals as Kuki militants. They also alleged that certain Moreh-based organizations support and facilitate illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
In their statement, the Kuki body criticized the state police, stating, “Regrettably, the police commandos have falsely identified the apprehended trio as Kuki militants in Imphal-based news. Additionally, they claimed that Moreh Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have opposed the deployment of Commando (CDO) forces in Moreh to facilitate the influx of more Myanmar nationals into the state. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh even shared this on his social media accounts. The Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal would like to make it clear that none of the Moreh-based organizations endorse illegal immigration from Myanmar. Simultaneously, we will not tolerate unfounded allegations from the police commandos, who are seen as communal forces.”
The Moreh town police commando detained three Myanmar nationals on October 22, whom they suspected to be involved in drug-related activities.
The Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal clarified, “The arrested Myanmar nationals have no connection with Kuki militants or the Moreh public and organizations. They are, in fact, individuals with drug-related issues, who are believed to have been harbored by the police commandos. It is common knowledge among the Moreh public that some police commando personnel are themselves involved in drug use. The Commando (CDO) unit has harbored several drug users from Myanmar and employed them as drug suppliers. Furthermore, there have been several instances in the past where state forces, especially police commandos stationed in Moreh and Tengnoupal, were caught with drugs along the Imphal-Moreh road,” as stated by the Kuki body.
Regarding the news characterizing the arrested Myanmar nationals as Kuki militants, the Kuki body emphasized in their statement, “Disseminating falsehoods, fake propaganda, and baseless accusations has become a common practice among police commandos and certain Meitei media outlets since the outbreak of Meitei ethnic cleansing. State forces, particularly police commandos, consistently produce fabricated news whenever they leave their compound. This is why the Moreh public prefers them to stay inside their compound or leave Moreh town. In contrast, the Assam Rifles and central security forces (BSF, RAF) stationed in Moreh encounter no such issues with the public. They are viewed as neutral forces that instill a sense of safety and security. However, each time the police commandos venture out, they invent one unfounded accusation after another. This is not the first occasion on which state forces have leveled false allegations against a specific community or organization. Their intentions clearly reflect their communal nature, and they are perceived as Meitei forces, prompting CSOs to demand their withdrawal back to the valley.”
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