Imphal: Manipur’s former Additional Superintendent of Police, Brinda Thounaojam, who is at the centre of controversy over her alleged accusation that Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol were responsible for the current ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur, has been boycotted by Meitei Leepun here on Thursday.
In an audio statement which went viral on social media Wednesday, Brinda alleged that both Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol were in Churachandpur before the violence on May 3 and they are the main culprits behind the whole incident. She even alleged that both organisations were formed under the guidance of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba.
In the audio clip, Brinda, who contested the last state assembly election from JD(U) ticket, further claimed that the Chief Minister had devised a plan to be in power even if he parts ways with the BJP by forming a regional party based on Meitei fanaticism with the help of Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun.
After her alleged statement, a large number of people including members of Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun stormed her residence at Yaiskul Janmasthan and demanded an apology from her.
Speaking to media persons, Hijam Silhei, Lanjang Hanjaba of Meitei Leepun, said that not only the statement of Brinda was ridiculous but also against the very conscience of Meiteis in general on the violence.
Narrating the chronology of the incident, Silhei further informed that the first actual violence in Manipur started on April 27, 2023, when some Kuki militants set on fire an open gym which was supposed to be inaugurated by Chief Minister N Biren Singh. On April 29 at Thingafai in Churachandpur district, a temple of one Wahengbam Oken was destroyed by those Kuki militants by not only destroying the flag of seven clans of Meiteis but also spitting on it.
He said that on May 3, after the so-called solidarity peace rally, the Kuki militants set on fire a forest office in the district headquarters, later a truck Meitei driver was mercilessly beaten up on the same day.
Silhei said that one Ningthoujam Rohan, a vendor and one Laishram Malemnganba, a tractor driver, were mistreated without any rhyme or reason. They were witnessed by two reporters. Later in the evening, a large number of Kukis came to Phougakchai on the charge that their Indo-Kuki War Memorial Gate was damaged by the Meiteis. They also started looting, smashing all the shops and houses lying along the route.
The first, thus, burning down of Meitei houses began at Torbung Bangla, and then spread to Moreh and other Kuki-dominated areas, he added.
He even claimed that many Kukis took mass casual leave from the government departments ahead of May 3 while many Kuki students and people in other professions had vacated their residences in the valley districts before the violence broke out. The ongoing violence was pre-planned by Kukis, he added.
He also accused human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam of speaking against the Meiteis in a YouTube Channel, in which the activist allegedly claimed that Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol instigated the violence in the state.
The Leepun, he said, has decided to bar Brinda and Babloo from making public speeches until the violence is resolved in Manipur.
He said his organisation won’t take any responsibility for any unwanted incidents if both the two people violate the boycott.
