CoTU Slams Arambai Tenggol for Provocative Trespass into Kuki Areas on Independence Day Eve

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has strongly condemned what it described as a “deliberate and provocative act” by members of Arambai Tenggol (AT) at C. Zoulen Village on the morning of August 14.

According to CoTU, a group of AT members — some in full uniform, others disguised as civilians — allegedly crossed the buffer zone from Chanung Meitei Village into Kuki areas. The group reportedly began felling and clearing fields, an act that the Committee claims was carried out in full view of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel stationed nearby.

Disturbingly, CoTU alleged that a viral video clip shows CAPF personnel opening a barbed-wire buffer gate, allowing the intruders through, instead of preventing the breach.

“This choreographed incident was nothing but a calculated move to provoke our village volunteers into reacting, with the aim of portraying the Kuki-Zo community in a negative light on the eve of Independence Day,” the Committee stated. It further accused Meitei separatists of refusing to accept the merger of the erstwhile Kangleipak with the Union of India to this day.

The Committee also questioned ongoing government negotiations with armed groups such as Arambai Tenggol, UNLF, PREPAK, and other valley-based insurgent groups (VBIGs), stating: “It is baffling that these separatist mercenary groups — whose sole objective is independence from India — are in talks with the Government of India.”

CoTU called on the CRPF stationed at Chanung to be briefed on the nature of the conflict and reminded its Commanding Officer to maintain neutrality and clearly distinguish between “transnationalist militants” and “village volunteers defending their land.”

The statement expressed regret over being compelled to issue the condemnation but stressed the need to remind security forces of their constitutional duty, especially under Governor’s Rule, to operate without political influence.

The Committee warned Arambai Tenggol against involving civilians in such tensions and issued a clear message: “The people of Chanung Meitei Village are free to cultivate their fields and fell trees within their side of the buffer zone. But any trespass into our land will be met with necessary action, and neither CoTU nor our village volunteers will be held responsible for the consequences.”