The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on Tuesday issued a strong clarification rejecting allegations that have linked the Kuki-Zo community to the recent incident in Tronglaobi. The organisation said the claims being circulated are “baseless” and not supported by any credible evidence. In an official statement, the ITLF said that any untoward incident involving the Meitei community should not be immediately blamed on the Kuki-Zo people without a proper investigation. It stressed that such assumptions only create more confusion and increase tension between communities at a time when the situation remains sensitive.
The forum pointed out that buffer zones between Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas are under heavy security presence. According to the statement, these areas are closely monitored by security forces, making it extremely difficult for any individual to cross undetected or carry out any form of attack in Meitei-dominated localities. It also highlighted that Gelmol, the nearest Kuki village to Tronglaobi, is currently not inhabited by villagers and is instead occupied by CRPF personnel. The ITLF said this further weakens the allegations being made against the community.
The organisation maintained that throughout the ongoing conflict, the Kuki-Zo community has respected the buffer zone arrangements. It added that past incidents have only occurred when these zones were breached from the opposite side. The ITLF urged both the authorities and the general public to rely only on verified information and avoid making accusations without evidence. It appealed for restraint and responsible reporting, warning that unverified claims can deepen mistrust and disturb efforts to maintain peace.
