CCpur survivors call out white lies
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2025: Internally displaced persons who witnessed and survived the onslaught of vicious violent attacks at Churachandpur on May 3, 2023 have vehemently condemned the IPT report of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) on the Manipur conflict.

The Independent People's Tribunal (IPT) report since its release on August 20 has become controversial and continues to court criticism from different quarters, questioning the "true intent" of publication of "the one-sided report" .

By publishing the biased report that is filled with distorted facts, the PUCL is mocking the people who actually survived the violence in Churachandpur, said Churachandpur Meetei United Committee co-convenor, Ningthoujam Naba.

The Churachandpur Meetei United Committee is an apex body of five civil bodies based in Churachandpur.

An internally displaced person himself, Naba said the Meiteis of Chura-chandpur reject the report in its entirety, speaking to reporters at the Manipur Press Club Imphal today.

The violence did not start in Imphal.

It started from Churachandpur on May 3, 2023 and if looked at carefully, it all started on the night of April 27, 2023 when an open gym in Churachandpur was burnt and all the CCTVs along the Churachandpur Tiddim Road were dismantled by the Kukis.

Afterward, they also dismantled the Temple of Ibudhou Pakhangba at Thingkhangphai, Naba asserted.

All these incidents including the dismantling of the CCTV cameras and the temple were them provoking and preparing ground for the May 3, 2023 violence that first saw burning of Meitei houses in Churachandpur and adjoining areas of Bishnupur, Naba said.

On the day of the rally against the Meiteis' ST demand on May 3, 2023, much before the violence erupted, the Kukis burnt down a Forest Beat office at Singhat at around 11 am.

Hours later, a Meitei man was beaten mercilessly in front of Tuibong Forest Gate, Naba said.

By claiming that the violence started in Imphal, the report is intentionally lying and misleading people on the actual genesis of the violence of May 3, 2023 .

Several hours before the violence reached Imphal, houses belonging to the Meiteis were either burnt or dismantled at Kangvai and Torbung areas in the afternoon at around 2-2.30 pm .

Later, Meitei houses at 16 localities of Churachandpur were attacked at around 6 pm, Naba asserted.

The PUCL report further falsely claims that the Kukis gave safe haven to the Meiteis in Churachandpur.

The fact is several Meiteis were hurt in the attacks by the Kukis at the six localities.

There were no police to defend the Meiteis.

"We were left to fend for ourselves the entire night before security forces arrived in the early morning and evacuated us," Naba said.

"Even when we were being rescued and evacuated in the vehicles of the security forces, we were attacked with sticks and stones by the Kukis," Naba said.

The PUCL report clearly contains distorted facts and lies.

It has the potential to spark fresh tension in the already troubled State.

The Government must therefore take strict actions against the organisation, he added.

The Churachandpur Meitei United Committee is an apex body of Meetei Society Churachandpur, Meitei Youth Organisation, Churachandpur Meitei Youth Club, Nupi Samaj and Ima Leimarel Churachandpur.

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