COCOMI refutes KIM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 03 2024: In an apparent response to Kuki Inpi spreading false narrative of the attack at Koutruk that killed a woman and injured her daughter, COCOMI has asserted that the attack was carried out by armed Kuki group who infiltrated Meitei village in an ambulance.

"Armed immigrant Kuki groups" used an ambulance to infiltrate and kill a young mother and injure her minor daughter at Koutruk on September 1, said the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) .

This, after a video of a group of armed Kuki men inside an ambulance was widely shared on social media.

In a press communique it released yesterday, COCOMI said the ambulance came from Leimakhong, which houses one of the largest army camps.

It alleged that the armed Kuki group infiltrated into Meitei village of Koutruk using the ambulance, leading to the killing of the young mother and injuring her daughter.

"The Kuki narco-terrorists have grossly violated and misused the sanctity of humanitarian service vehicles, and committed inhumane crimes that reflect their lack of moral and ethical integrity," it said.

In the video that has been shared widely on social media, COCOMI claimed "a woman in the background is heard appreciating the barbaric forces and celebrating the death of the young mother and the injury of her minor child" .

In stark contrast to the evidence from video footage, photos, and ground reports, the Kuki Inpi quickly issued a press release that appeared to be pre-emptively drafted before the actual incident occurred, COCOMI added.

The timing of their press release coincided suspiciously with the attack, making it evident that the incident was premeditated, it said.

COCOMI said the Kuki Inpi plays a significant role in "misleading" the public, and is "engaging in a disinformation campaign designed to deceive" .

It said, some National and local media outlets were initially misled by the press release but later corrected their reports after realizing the truth, exposing the lies perpetuated by Kuki Inpi during the attack.

Simply relying on the press release of the "most deceitful group" in the region without verifying its content is very dangerous and this needs to be strictly checked by the media, said COCOMI.

It said this was not the first time Kuki Inpi has spread false and fabricated narratives.

For instance, they have previously fabricated and misrepresented the so-called Moirang Treaty of Brotherhood between the Meetei and Kuki---a narrative they constructed to legitimize their presence in the region, said COCOMI.

However, historical records from the Royal Chronicle of the Meetei Kings clearly indicate that this was not a treaty but rather a request to serve under the King's command to guard the boundary.

It further said, "Justifying an act of terror by their so-called Kuki Volunteers, who used an ambulance to infiltrate Meetei villages and kill an innocent mother while critically injuring her young daughter, is utterly despicable.

Kuki Inpi even attempted to justify a woman celebrating with these terrorist barbarians, who were having a meal inside the very ambulance used in the attack" .

The registration number of the ambulance is known and the identities of the group have been revealed by the video on social media.

The State Government must now take appropriate action against them for the heinous attack, said COCOMI.

If the State Government fails to take appropriate action, public trust in the current administration may erode, it said.

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