NSCN/GPRN has rejected KIM's allegations over the Loibol Khullen attack, calling them baseless and urging reliance on impartial investigation findings.
Imphal, June 5: The Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) of the NSCN/GPRN has rejected allegations made by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) linking NSCN-IM and an alleged proxy outfit to the deadly attack on Loibol Khullen village in Kangpokpi district that claimed three civilian lives on Friday.
In a rebuttal statement issued on June 5, the NSCN/GPRN described KIM's allegations as “categorically rejected in their entirety” and accused the organisation of spreading misinformation and unverified claims regarding the incident.
The response came after KIM, in a statement issued earlier in the day, alleged that heavily armed cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF (K) were responsible for the attack on Loibol Khullen village, where three civilians were killed and several houses were reportedly set on fire.
Rejecting the accusation, the NSCN/GPRN said the allegations were unsupported by credible evidence and represented a pattern of what it termed “fabrication, distortion and misinformation.”
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According to the statement, KIM was attempting to exploit a human tragedy for political purposes by advancing claims before the completion of any impartial investigation.
“The statement is seen as nothing more than an opportunistic attempt to exploit human tragedy for political gain,” the NSCN/GPRN said.
The organisation further alleged that similar accusations had been made in the past without substantiated evidence and argued that such claims undermine efforts to establish facts and promote peace.
The NSCN/GPRN also criticised what it described as the “reckless dissemination of misinformation” and urged KIM and affiliated organisations to refrain from circulating allegations that have not been verified through official investigations.
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The statement maintained that advancing narratives based on unverified accusations contributes to mistrust and division and does not assist efforts aimed at restoring normalcy in the region.
Calling for restraint, the NSCN/GPRN appealed to the public, media organisations and authorities to rely on facts established through impartial investigations rather than claims made by interested parties.
It further stated that truth must be determined through evidence and due process, adding that repeated allegations do not automatically establish facts.
“Truth cannot be manufactured, and propaganda cannot substitute for evidence,” the statement said.
The organisation also urged all parties involved in public discourse surrounding the incident to act responsibly and avoid actions that could inflame tensions.
Friday's attack at Loibol Khullen village has triggered widespread condemnation from several Kuki-Zo civil society organisations, many of which have demanded a thorough investigation, enhanced security deployment and the arrest of those responsible for the killings.
Police have already registered a case in connection with the incident and launched an investigation. No official findings regarding the identity of the attackers had been announced at the time of filing this report.
The attack, which left three civilians dead and several homes destroyed, has further heightened concerns over the security situation in parts of Manipur's hill districts and intensified calls for an impartial investigation into the incident.