“Who Was Really Targeted?” CoTU Demands Answers Over Attack on Manipur Dy CM Losii Dikho at Namdilong

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has strongly condemned the alleged attack on vehicles belonging to Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and the Paomei Naga Tsiidoumai (PNTM) at Namdilong near Kanglatongbi on August 17, demanding an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident.

Describing the incident as “deeply shameful”, the CoTU said the reported attack and the inflammatory political discourse surrounding it raised serious questions about the safety of public representatives and the motives behind the violence.

The committee said the incident was particularly disturbing as Losii Dikho had consistently advocated peace, unity and reconciliation among Christian tribes, including after the killing of three Church leaders on May 13.

It said the Deputy Chief Minister had twice led State Government delegations to Senapati—once alongside Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and again with the Home Minister—to engage with the United Naga Council (UNC) over the prolonged blockade of essential commodities, despite reservations within his own community.

“The Government must immediately apprehend those involved in the attack and take appropriate legal action against every individual or organisation found to have organised, encouraged or participated in it,” the CoTU said.

Questioning the clarification issued by the Liangmei Naga Council, the committee asked how the PNTM vehicle could allegedly have been mistaken for a vehicle belonging to Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen when the vehicle reportedly carried the clear identity of the Paomei Naga Tsiidoumai.

More significantly, it asked why misinformation allegedly identifying the vehicle as belonging to Nemcha Kipgen was circulated when the Deputy Chief Minister reportedly targeted in the incident was Losii Dikho, a Mao Naga leader.

“Who spread the misinformation, and why?” the CoTU asked, urging the Government to establish whether the attack was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern of identity-based targeting.

The committee also rejected attempts to link Nemcha Kipgen to the Langka incident without credible evidence, saying allegations must be tested through investigation rather than ethnic narratives or political speculation.

Drawing attention to the burning of Lanchah, Kultuh and Phaimol villages in Phungyar Assembly Constituency of Kamjong district, the CoTU demanded that such incidents too be thoroughly examined to determine whether they were planned, coordinated or connected with local MLA Leishiyo.

The CoTU further alleged a glaring “double standard” in the treatment of elected representatives, questioning why Kuki-Zo MLAs had faced scrutiny over their absence from the Assembly while Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki-Zo MLA and Deputy Chief Minister, was reportedly pressured to attend office in Imphal amid demands concerning her Tribal Affairs portfolio.

“If a Mao Naga Deputy Chief Minister and Paomei Naga Tsiidoumai could be targeted, what assurance of safety exists for a Kuki-Zo MLA or Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen compelled to attend Imphal?” it asked.

The committee said the Government must answer four fundamental questions—who attacked the vehicles, who spread the alleged false information, who organised or encouraged the attack and what the actual motive was.

“The people deserve facts, accountability and equal protection—not rumours, selective narratives or ethnic propaganda,” the CoTU said, adding that if the Paomei Naga Tsiidoumai and Mao identity was deliberately targeted, the Government must act firmly, impartially and without bias.

“Justice, Security, and Equal Protection for All,” the committee said.