Manipur MP calls PUCL report on violence ‘biased, one-sided’

Imphal, Aug 24 (NNN): Rajya Sabha MP and Manipur’s titular king Sanajaoba Leishemba has dismissed the independent people’s tribunal report on Manipur’s ethnic conflict, saying it was “biased, one-sided and unprofound”. The report on Manipur violence was released this month.

The MP made the statement on Sunday during the birth centenary celebration of Manipuri writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee Elangbam Sonamani.

The 694-page report, released by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph, concluded that the violence of May 3, 2023, was “not spontaneous but planned, ethnically targeted, and aided by state failures.”

It also suggested that “hate propaganda and inflammatory speeches”, which led to violence, should be prosecuted, and that authorities who failed to stop the unrest must face action.

PUCL said its findings were based on visits to districts, including Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Kangpokpi and Senapati, and from testimonies collected in Delhi.

The report emphasised that the violence was “not spontaneous but orchestrated, enabled by armed Meitei vigilante groups like Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, and facilitated by state complicity and law enforcement failures”.

Arambai Tenggol, which means ‘dart-wielding cavalry’, was formed around 2020 by Sanajaoba Leishemba and was supported by former chief minister of the BJP government Biren Singh, the PUCL report mentioned.

On his official X account, Leishemba wrote, “Reports of People’s Union for Civil Liberties are totally Wrong, Biased, One-sided, Baseless, Ungrounded & Added fuel to the Peace Process. Demanded a Strong Probe against this PUCL.”

He warned that the report could mislead the Meitei community and called for a legal investigation.

(With inputs from MM bureau)