NPPTL speaks out
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 20 2026: National People's Party Tera Lai (NPPTL) has asserted that Kuki armed groups attacking and killing Meitei and Naga people at the same time is akin to inviting a joint offensive from the two communities.

Speaking to media persons at their Naoremthong office today, NPPTL president Yumnam Joykumar asked whether Kukis can live in Manipur if the Meiteis and Nagas join hands and launch retaliatory action collectively.

Instead of claiming that Kukis were not involved in the Tronglaobi and TM Kasom killings, Kuki organisations ought to take proactive roles toward arresting the perpetrators and preventing such incidents in the future.

The State Government cannot shrug its responsibility by handing over the Tronglaobi and TM Kasom attacks to the NIA .

It will take around a month for the NIA to initiate investigation.

In the meantime, State forces should investigate the scenes of crimes, said Joykumar, who served as the DGP of Manipur after serving in the BSF for a long time.

He said that the CBI is more proficient in investigating crimes involving bombs and firearms than the NIA.

Joykumar said that the State Government can take up necessary action without waiting for the Centre's concurrence in case Kuki militants under SoO agreement violate the ground rules.

Pointing out that the Tronglaobi attack which claimed the lives of two toddlers was carried out using RPG, Joykumar expressed strong suspicion that the particular attack was carried out by Kuki militants.

Instead of condemning the inhuman killing, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen spoke in such a manner as if the attack was not carried out by Kukis.

If the Kukis were not behind the attack, Nemcha Kipgen should take a major role in identifying the perpetrators of the killing, Joykumar said.

Taking serious note of a recent confrontation between security forces and protesters at Thinungei, Joykumar said that the seizure of drugs at Imphal Airport was made by CISF.

The seized drugs were then handed over to Manipur Police.

In this whole operation, Assam Rifles had no role, he said.

People are now asking the Assam Rifles' undue interference in the particular case which led to unnecessary confrontation and casualties, he said.

The former DGP asserted that the Assam Rifles has no authority to investigate drug cases.

He also questioned why AR personnel in civilian fatigue went to seize drugs outside their assigned duty.

It would be wrong for Chief Minister Y Khemchand to claim that highways are open and safe just because he visited Jiribam, Senapati and Ukhrul with a large number of security escorts, added Joykumar who also served as the Deputy Chief of Manipur earlier.

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