Meetei Civil society groups and intellectuals urged the formation of a COCOMI-led Working Group to produce a fact-based counter-report to PUCL’s Independent People’s Tribunal findings.
BY PC Bureau
August 30, 2025 — A public review meeting comprising Imphal-based civil society groups, intellectuals, and senior editors has sharply criticised the Independent People’s Tribunal (IPT) Report released by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). The meeting recommended, among other measures, the creation of a COCOMI-led Working Group to draft a fact-based counter-report, and the filing of FIRs against PUCL members under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for what was described as “inflammatory and one-sided reporting.”
The meeting, organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), was held on Saturday at Hotel Imphal, Shiroy Hall. It was presided over by COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba and moderated by retired economist Prof. Ch. Priyoranjan. The speakers included Dr. Homen Thangjam (IGNTU), Dr. Malem Ningthouja (DMU), Dr. Noni Arambam (DMU), Yumnam Rupachandra (Chief Editor, Impact TV), and Sadokpam Dhiren Ambrose (Executive Editor, The Frontier Manipur).
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Criticism of PUCL Report
The session featured a detailed chapter-by-chapter review of the PUCL’s IPT report, with participants describing it as “biased, selective and deeply flawed.” Several speakers pointed out that the document, while projecting itself as fact-finding, failed to incorporate testimonies from the valley population, survivors of violence from Meitei communities, and victims of attacks on temples. . Among the key concerns raised were:
- Branding of the entire Meetei community as “Anti-India”:
The Report dangerously generalizes and vilifies the entire Meetei population, portraying their democratic movements and civil society groups as secessionist and anti-national. Such misrepresentation is not only factually baseless but also deeply offensive, amounting to a direct attack on the integrity and patriotism of an indigenous community that has made immense contributions to India. - Misrepresentation of judicial orders:
The Report wrongly claims that the Manipur High Court directed the State Government to recommend ST status for the Meeteis, despite categorical clarification from the former Chief Justice that no such authority rests with the court. - One-sided portrayal of violence:
While repeatedly highlighting incidents of arms looting in the valley, the Report conveniently ignores large-scale looting of weapons from police posts in the hills and the well-documented role of armed Kuki groups. - Suppressing critical facts:
The Report downplays the involvement of heavily armed Kuki militants, cross-border infiltration, and the use of drones and sophisticated weaponry, while disproportionately blaming Meitei civil society. - Biased narrative construction:
The Tribunal recycles discredited and withdrawn reports, including the Editors’ Guild report, and aligns its findings with separatist propaganda.
The review concluded that these findings establish beyond doubt that the PUCL Tribunal Report was politically engineered to demonize the Meeteis, destabilize Manipur’s fragile harmony, and delegitimize the community’s democratic aspirations.
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Call for Counter-Report
Speakers underlined the need for a rigorous, evidence-based counter-report that can withstand legal scrutiny. COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba emphasised that “a collective scholarly effort is required to place facts before the public and the courts, ensuring that no community is silenced or vilified.”
It was unanimously agreed that a Working Group, led by COCOMI and comprising academics, journalists, and legal experts, should be constituted immediately to begin work on such a report.
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Key Recommendations from the Public Review Meeting:
- Formation of a Fact-Checking Committee: A Working Group under the aegis of COCOMI will set up a committee tasked with preparing a fact-based Review Report to counter what it described as PUCL’s “distorted and politically motivated” narrative.
- Accountability for Defamation: The meeting called for fixing responsibility and ensuring justice against individuals and organizations that deliberately branded the Meeteis as “Anti-India” and manipulated facts for political purposes.
- Legal Action Against PUCL Members: Participants recommended lodging FIRs under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against PUCL members for allegedly one-sided and inflammatory reporting carried out under the guise of human rights advocacy.
The Review concluded with a strong appeal for responsible, balanced documentation of facts to uphold justice, safeguard the dignity of Manipuri people, and protect peace and harmony in the state.
