Kangpokpi: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, has strongly rejected what it termed as “sensational and unsubstantiated” allegations circulated in sections of the media regarding the alleged harassment and extortion of the Rajasthan School Wushu team during their return journey from Imphal in connection with the 69th National School Games.
In a press statement issued on Monday, CoTU stated that no such incident has been reported to any police station, control room, or security agency in Manipur till date. Emphasising the prevailing security situation in the state, the organisation noted that Manipur remains a conflict-sensitive region where security forces are on high alert and movement is closely monitored.
Under such circumstances, CoTU said, it is inconceivable that an armed gunpoint extortion involving a school team could occur without leaving any official trace or prompt reporting. “The complete absence of any FIR, general diary entry, or formal complaint exposes the hollowness of these claims,” the statement said, questioning the credibility of the allegations.
CoTU further pointed out that the authorities and parents of the Rajasthan School Wushu team have failed to disclose basic details such as the exact location, time, route, or jurisdiction where the alleged incident reportedly took place. Without these essential details, the organisation asserted, the allegation appears to be a fabricated narrative intended to provoke fear and outrage.
Expressing grave concern, CoTU strongly objected to the alleged miscreants being labelled as “Kuki militants.” The organisation described this as reckless and malicious, noting that the complainants are non-locals who are unfamiliar with the region, its people, languages, and identities.
CoTU questioned the basis on which the alleged perpetrators were identified as “Kuki militants,” pointing out that no distinguishing features such as uniforms, insignia, language, or any form of proof have been cited.
“This raises a serious question as to whether there is a deliberate attempt to communalise a non-existent incident and malign an entire tribal community that has already been victimised by sustained violence and vilification,” the statement said.
The organisation warned that such irresponsible statements not only lack credibility but also endanger communal harmony, undermine public trust, and amount to ethnic profiling. At a time when Manipur urgently needs peace, healing, and responsible conduct, CoTU said that peddling vague and inflammatory accusations without evidence is deeply condemnable.
Reiterating its stand, CoTU asserted that baseless allegations, unnamed locations, unidentified perpetrators, and communal labelling do not constitute truth but propaganda. The organisation made it clear that it will not remain silent while an already traumatised community is dragged through the mud on the strength of unverified and dubious claims.
