Makhan rubbishes CoTU's claim
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 10 2025: The Makhan (Makhen) Village Authority (MVA) has accused the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) of spreading falsehood pertaining to the alleged abduction of one Kamginlen Chongloi.

The village authority, in a statement, said that the so-called COTU operating from certain pockets of Kangpokpi has been issuing a series of misleading and baseless press releases regarding the alleged abduction of Kamginlen Chongloi to wrongly implicate the Makhan Liangmai Naga Village.

The claim that the said individual was abducted from Makhan is completely false, it said.

Upon learning of the alleged incident, the people of Makhan and neighbouring villages immediately issued a statement condemning the abduction, it said.

Saying that they, however, were not informed where or how the incident occurred nor were they approached by any party seeking information thereafter, the MVA added that the the victim's party is expected to approach the local landowners or village authority for help or clarification in their tribal tradition if an untoward incident occurs within or near their village.

Unfortunately, no family member, community leader, or individual concerned has ever approached Makhan Village to this day, it added.

Saying that Chongloi was briefly detained by an Army ROP team for suspicious activity and later handed over to the Sekmai police, who subsequently transferred him to Gamnom Sapermeina police station according to reliable sources, the village authority, however, stated that CoTU, however, continues to circulate unfounded statements by alleging that the abduction occurred "at Makhan" and that the victim was "taken to Khurkhul" .

These allegations are entirely baseless and irresponsible, it said and added that CoTU's recent call for additional "security preparedness" in the buffer zones raises serious concern.

The Makhan Liangmai Naga community, along with other Naga villages in the foothills of Manipur, have maintained strict neutrality amid the ongoing ethnic conflict since its outbreak on May 3, 2023, it said.

"Throughout this period, our people have extended humanitarian assistance to all communities, allowing free and safe passage through our territory -a fact well known to all, it said and added that certain groups, however, continue 'to malign us despite our consistent goodwill and neutrality' .

"Do not mistake our silence for weakness," the village authority warned and added that they will not tolerate false accusations, provocations, or any attempt to drag 'our peace-loving community into conflict' .

"This is not a threat, but a clear and cautionary message - anyone who seeks to defame or target us without cause must be prepared for the consequences of their actions," it said and added that CoTU's hidden agenda is to push for the deployment of Kuki police or armed presence in their region by tarnishing the image of Makhan and the surrounding Naga villages.

Stating that they will not tolerate any militarization or encroachment upon their lands without their consent, the village authority maintained that the foothill region is already heavily secured, with the 57th Mountain Red Shield Division at Leimakhong, BSF Battalion at IGNTU, CRPF at Leikhampokpi, and other Central paramilitary forces stationed at Konsakhul and Singda area.

Any further attempt to establish new security outposts here would be viewed with grave suspicion and resistance, it said and added that the Makhan Liangmai Naga community, remain a peace-loving people committed to harmony and coexistence.

"However, we will firmly defend our dignity, rights, and territorial integrity against any form of provocation or falsehood," it asserted.

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