Strong Objection Regarding Biased Reporting and Violation of Press Council of India’s Guidelines
- 10th March, 2025 :: Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC)-

*

To, The Editor,
The Wire,
Delhi

Dear Editor,

I hope this letter finds you well. On behalf of Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC), I wish to begin by stating that we deeply respect independent journalism and the vital role that media professionalism plays in any democratic society. The work of responsible media outlets is essential for informing the public and fostering healthy debate. However, it is with great disappointment that we write to you today to address our serious concerns about The Wire’s recent editorial practices, which have failed to meet the professional standards expected of a respected media organization.

Over the past several months, The Wire has published a series of reports about the Manipur violence that are not only biased and inflammatory but also damaging to the reputation of the Meitei people. We find this conduct deeply troubling, especially when it disregards the essential ethical standards upheld by the Press Council of India.

1. Unfounded Accusations in the Arms Surrender Report: In your article “As Manipur’s Arms Surrender Deadline Ends, Arambai Tenggol Is Yet to Return The Bulk of Stolen Weapons”, you state, “The Wire has learned that Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun had taken a far larger number, much of which remains in circulation.” This unsubstantiated claim is not only misleading but also fails to provide context about the real threats faced by the Meitei community, who were forced to defend themselves against ongoing Kuki armed aggression. The omission of this vital context reflects a clear bias in your coverage.

2. Misrepresentation of the Situation: Furthermore, you refereed “A total of 6,000 arms were looted in Manipur over different periods since May 3, 2023, by ‘the Meitei militia’, as reported by The New Indian Express.”

The New Indian Express report did not suggest that Arambai Tenggol was responsible for all the looted arms, nor does it address the systematic violence inflicted on the Meitei by Kuki militants. It is troubling that The Wire has chosen to neglect the broader picture of the coordinated attacks on Meitei villages by Kuki militants, protected by security forces. This selective reporting is deeply troubling.

3. Failure to Acknowledge Meitei Suffering: Over the past 21 months, The Wire has failed to publish any detailed reports on how Meitei minorities in Chin Kuki-dominated districts were subjected to brutal attacks by Kuki mobs and militants. For instance, on May 3, Kuki militants, with the support of Kuki mobs, burned over 800 Meitei homes in areas such as Ekou, Kangpokpi, Torbung, Bishenpur, Churachandpur, and Moreh.

The Wire chose not to acknowledge these atrocities, even though Meitei civilians, including Mr. Korunganba, the chief of Arambai Tenggol, had to defend the Meetei villages when security forces failed to intervene and protect Meeteis in the kuki dominated four districts.

5. Protection of Kuki Aggression: It is appalling that your reports fail to shed light on the Kuki military aggression against the Meitei people, particularly the failure of the Assam Rifles to provide protection. In your coverage, the Chin Kuki civil society and militant groups’ refusal to surrender weapons, in pursuit of demands for a separate Union Territory, is blatantly ignored. This omission of critical facts clearly suggests an intentional distortion of the truth to serve an agenda.

6. Politically Motivated Sources: In the same report, you stated, “No list of weapons actually surrendered by Arambai Tenggol has yet been made public by Manipur Police. The Wire also reached out to Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh to inquire about the number of surrendered arms from the total looted weapons. We have not received a response from the DGP yet.”

The fact that The Wire has sourced its information from politically motivated figures with anti-Meitei and anti-Arambai Tenggol views casts serious doubt on the integrity of the report. We strongly urge The Wire to consult unbiased, professional sources moving forward.

7. Selective Reporting and Obfuscation of Facts: You further state, “Arambai Tenggol has been named in multiple FIRs filed by the Kuki-Zo community, linking the group to incidents of violence and killings. Since ethnic clashes erupted on May 3, 2023, over 6,500 FIRs have been registered in Manipur, documenting widespread destruction and the use of looted weapons in attacks.”

We demand a clear clarification on how many of these 6,500 FIRs involved Arambai Tenggol? Why is there no mention of Kuki armed organizations responsible for the killing of over 180 Meitei individuals, burning more than 4,500 Meitei houses, and kidnapping 30 Meitei civilians? Are you attempting to imply that all of these crimes were committed by Arambai Tenggol or Meitei militants? If not, why has The Wire remained silent on the atrocities committed by Kuki militants?

8. Alarming Omission of Kuki Armed Militants’ Role: In your report, you write, “In September 2023, Arambai Tenggol militants, dressed in police commando uniforms, attempted to break through security checkpoints and move toward Pallel. The confrontation left 45 people injured, and several Kuki-Zo-owned shops were set on fire. A report on The Caravan also indicated that Manipur Police personnel were seen safeguarding Arambai Tenggol members in Pallel.”

This alarming report should be properly investigated, yet The Wire has failed to mention the Kuki armed militants in military uniforms who attacked Meitei homes. Why has The Wire not reported the Kuki militants’ armed assault on state forces in January 2024, which lasted for four consecutive days? Your refusal to report on this is a clear attempt to delegitimize the role of the Manipur police and protect the perpetrators of violence against the Meitei.

In light of these grave omissions and distortions, we are compelled to express our strong objection to your biased coverage, which appears to be part of a deliberate attempt to further an anti-Meitei agenda and inflame communal tensions. This one-sided reporting undermines the ethical standards expected from any responsible journalistic institution.

We demand that The Wire immediately:

1. Review and overhaul your editorial approach to ensure fair, unbiased, and accurate reporting on sensitive ethnic issues.

2. Align your journalistic practices with the ethical guidelines set forth by the Press Council of India, particularly regarding the coverage of ethnic and communal conflicts.

3. Issue a public clarification or correction regarding any reports that have misrepresented or negatively impacted the Meitei community.

Failure to address these concerns would not only perpetuate misinformation but also damage The Wire's credibility as a reputable news outlet. We strongly urge The Wire to restore trust with its readership by adhering to the highest standards of journalism.

We expect a prompt response and a constructive resolution to these serious matters. The Meitei community deserves to be heard and represented fairly.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Hijam Rajen
Media Advisor
Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC)
New Delhi: 10th March 2025