Ukhrul, May 12: Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL), the apex women’s body of the Tangkhul community, has issued a counter statement challenging an earlier press release issued by the Assam Rifles regarding the recent violence in Kamjong district of Manipur.
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| Tangkhul woman Olina Ningshen, who was abducted from Namlee village, was safely rescued and reunited with her family on May 9 near Z Choro along the Indo-Myanmar border with assistance from Assam Rifles. (Image: X/official_dgar) |
In a statement dated May 12, TSL objected to the Assam Rifles press release titled “Assam Rifles Swiftly Averts Major Escalation in Kamjong, Manipur,” arguing that several claims made in the release were “factually inaccurate” and misleading.
The organisation questioned the claim that security forces had “swiftly averted major escalation,” alleging that indiscriminate firing and torching of houses in Z. Choro, Namlee and Wanglee villages began around 3:30 am and continued for nearly an hour before Assam Rifles personnel arrived at the scene.
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TSL stated that the Assam Rifles camp at Aloyo is located only a few minutes away from the affected villages and alleged that the forces reached the area only after the attackers had already left. The women’s body further claimed that testimonies and videos from affected villagers indicated that armed militants crossed the border and attacked villages on the Indian side.
The statement also criticised the omission of civilian impact in the Assam Rifles release. While the security force mentioned that 10 houses were affected by violence and that 15 villages were rescued, TSL alleged that the release failed to clearly mention the cause of the damage and the nature of the attack, creating what it described as a misleading impression of the incident.
TSL further objected to the Assam Rifles’ description of an apprehended individual as an “armed cadre.” According to the organisation, the individual is a 25-year-old Village Guard from Konkan village and not a member of any underground group. It stated that Village Guards were appointed by village authorities for community protection following the outbreak of conflict in Manipur in May 2023.
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The organisation said labelling a civilian Village Guard as an “armed cadre” criminalises community self-defence and risks escalating tensions further.
Reaffirming its support for the rule of law and the role of security forces in protecting border areas, TSL stressed that truthful reporting is essential to prevent misinformation and avoid fuelling conflict.
“Peace cannot be built on misinformation,” the statement concluded.
