DMCC slams 'biased' reporting by The Wire
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 12 2025: The Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) has expressed a strong objection to a report published by The Wire titled "As Manipur's arms surrender deadline ends, Arambai Tenggol is yet to return the bulk of stolen weapons" .

DMCC sent a letter to the editor of The Wire on March 10, 2025, demanding the media outlet follow the Press Council of India's guidelines on responsible journalism.

In the letter, DMCC highlighted the severe suffering of the Meitei community over the past 21 months of violence in Manipur.

According to the committee, over 180 Meitei individuals have lost their lives, 31 remain missing, and more than 4,500 Meitei houses have been burned down.

Thousands of Meitei people have been displaced, and the remaining Meitei population is now confined to only 6% of Manipur's total territory.

The DMCC further urged National media outlets to maintain professionalism in their reporting and avoid framing the issue in terms of ethnic groups like "Kuki" or "Meitei" .

Instead, the committee emphasized the importance of supporting truth and justice for both communities suffering in the region.

"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", read the DMCC's letter.

Unfounded accusations in the arms surrender report

Reacting to the statement, "The Wire has learned that Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun had taken a far larger number, much of which remains in circulation", the DMCC asserted that 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 The Wire's coverage, it said.

Misrepresentation of the situation

The particular article by The Wire quoted a report filed by The New Indian Express, "A total of 6,000 arms were looted in Manipur over different periods since May 3, 2023, by the Meitei militia" .

But 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, the DMCC said.

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.Korounganba, 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, it said.

Protection of Kuki aggression

It is appalling that your (The Wire) 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, the DMCC wrote to The Wire.

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, it remarked.

It then urged The Wire to consult unbiased, professional sources moving forward.

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" .

With regard to this claim, the DMCC has demanded a clear clarification on how many of these 6,500 FIRs involved Arambai Tenggol.

It also questioned The Wire's failure to mention 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?, it asked.

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, it asserted.

It went on to ask as to Why The Wire did not report the Kuki militants' armed assault on State forces in January 2024, which lasted for four consecutive days.

The Wire's 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.

Highlighting these grave omissions and distortions, the DMCC expressed strong objection to The Wire's 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, it said.

The DMCC then demanded The Wire to immediately:

1.Review and overhaul its 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, it said.

"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", it added.

Comment