Imphal: A Public Review Meeting on the controversial Independent People’s Tribunal Report conducted by PUCL, Delhi was held on Saturday at Hotel Imphal, here, organised by Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi).
The public review meeting recommended formation of a Working Group under the aegis of Cocomi to constitute a committee that will prepare a fact-based Review Report to counter PUCL’s distorted narrative.
It recommended fixing accountability and ensuring justice against individuals and organizations that deliberately branded the Meeteis as “Anti-India” and manipulated facts for political ends.
The meeting also recommended to lodge FIRs under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against PUCL members for one-sided and inflammatory reporting under the guise of Human Rights.
The session was presided over by Khuraijam Athouba, Convenor of the people’s committee and moderated by Prof. Ch. Priyoranjan (Retd.), renowned economist.
Dr. Homen Thangjam – Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, IGNTU, Dr. Malem Ningthouja – Historian & Associate Professor, Dept. of History, DMU, Dr. Noni Arambam – Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, DMU, Yumnam Rupachandra – chief Editor, Impact TV and Sadokpam Dhiren Ambrose – executive editor, The Frontier Manipur were the speakers at the meeting.
The meeting undertook a threadbare chapter-wise review of the Tribunal Report.
Cocomi said the review exposed glaring distortions and partisan biases, notably:
* Branding of the entire Meetei community as “Anti-India”: The Report dangerously generalizes and vilifies the entire Meetei population, portraying their democratic movements and civil society groups as secessionist and anti-national. Such misrepresentation is not only factually baseless but also deeply offensive, amounting to a direct attack on the integrity and patriotism of an indigenous community that has made immense contributions to India.
* Misrepresentation of judicial orders: The Report wrongly claims that the Manipur High Court directed the State Government to recommend ST status for the Meeteis, despite categorical clarification from the former Chief Justice that no such authority rests with the court.
* One-sided portrayal of violence: While repeatedly highlighting incidents of arms looting in the valley, the Report conveniently ignores large-scale looting of weapons from police posts in the hills and the well-documented role of armed Kuki groups.
* Suppressing critical facts: The Report downplays the involvement of heavily armed Kuki militants, cross-border infiltration, and the use of drones and sophisticated weaponry, while disproportionately blaming Meitei civil society.
* Biased narrative construction: The Tribunal recycles discredited and withdrawn reports, including the Editors’ Guild report, and aligns its findings with separatist propaganda.
These findings establish beyond doubt that the PUCL Tribunal Report was politically engineered to demonize the Meeteis, destabilize Manipur, and malign the community before the national and international community, said the people’s committee.
The Public Review strongly emphasized the urgent need for responsible and balanced documentation of facts to uphold justice, safeguard the dignity of Manipuri people, and protect peace and harmony in Manipur, it added.
