The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has warned that a proposed cycling mission by transgender activist Malem Thongam could escalate communal tensions in Kangpokpi district during the Christmas season.
BY PC Bureau
December 17, 2025 — The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), a prominent Kuki-Zo body in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, has objected to a proposed cycling event by transgender activist Malem Thongam, describing it as “provocative” and warning that it could inflame fragile communal relations during the Christmas festive period.
In a press release issued on December 17, COTU said the Kuki-Zo community in Kangpokpi was “not welcoming any problems which can escalate communal tension” at this sensitive time, stressing that they are a “peace-loving community by birth.”
The group demanded that the event—projected as part of a “Manipur Peace Route” mission—be halted immediately. It warned that any untoward incident arising from the cycling event would be the sole responsibility of the “concerned authority,” and that neither COTU nor the local Kuki-Zo community should be held accountable.
READ: SC Calls Delhi Pollution Measures a ‘Total Failure’, Orders Closure of Nine Toll Plazas
Background on Malem Thongam’s Cycling Mission
Malem Thongam, a 26–27-year-old transgender rights activist from Imphal East, embarked on a symbolic 3,000-kilometre solo cycling journey titled “Cycling for Manipur Peace” or “To Restore Peace and Harmony in Manipur.” The expedition began on October 2, 2025, from Delhi’s Qutub Minar, with the stated aim of reaching Imphal while promoting unity and reconciliation.
Identifying as a transwoman, Thongam has described the mission as a non-partisan appeal for peace that transcends ethnic, religious, and community divides. Travelling through states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Nagaland, she has sought to draw attention to Manipur’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. Reports suggest she recently faced health issues, delaying her arrival in Imphal to December 19.
Supporters have hailed the journey as a courageous attempt to spotlight the suffering caused by ethnic violence and to call for a return to normalcy. However, the planned passage through Kuki-Zo-dominated hill districts such as Kangpokpi has triggered concerns, particularly in light of informal restrictions on inter-community movement in sensitive areas since the conflict began.
Persistent Ethnic Tensions and Recent Violence
Tensions remain fragile in Manipur, as reflected in a fresh incident on December 16, 2025, a day before COTU’s statement. Unidentified miscreants reportedly fired multiple rounds around 9 pm in the Torbung–Phougakchao Ikhai area along the Bishnupur–Churachandpur border, a highly sensitive Meitei–Kuki interface. Security forces were rushed to the area and additional deployments were made in Bishnupur district to prevent escalation.
While no casualties were reported, the incident heightened fears of renewed violence after a period of relative calm.
Manipur continues to grapple with deep-seated mistrust, with communities largely segregated and peace initiatives frequently viewed through an ethnic lens. Thongam’s mission, though intended to bridge divides, has underscored these challenges, with hill-based organisations remaining wary of valley residents entering their areas amid unresolved grievances.
