April 7, 2026 — The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has strongly rejected allegations linking the Kuki-Zo community to the deadly overnight blast in Moirang Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district, calling such claims “baseless” and unsupported by evidence.
The attack, which took place around 1 a.m., killed two young children—a 5-year-old boy and his infant sister—and left their mother seriously injured after an explosive device struck their home while they were asleep.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the ITLF—representing Kuki-Zo tribal groups in Outer Manipur—urged authorities and the public to avoid what it described as automatic attribution of violence against the Meitei community to Kuki-Zo individuals without verified evidence.
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Security Concerns and Buffer Zones
The ITLF argued that existing buffer zones between Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas are heavily guarded by security forces, making undetected movement for such attacks “virtually impossible.” It also pointed out that Gelmol, the nearest Kuki village to Tronglaobi in Churachandpur, is currently abandoned and under the control of central security forces.
The forum maintained that Kuki-Zo groups have largely adhered to these buffer zones and warned that assigning blame without proof risks further inflaming tensions.
Context of Prolonged Conflict
The statement comes amid the continuing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023 between the valley-based Meitei community and hill-based Kuki-Zo groups. The violence has claimed over 250 lives and displaced tens of thousands, leaving communities largely segregated.
Moirang Tronglaobi, located near the foothills, has been a recurring flashpoint, witnessing repeated clashes during earlier phases of the conflict.
Call for Restraint and Investigation
While expressing grief over the deaths of the children, the ITLF stressed the need for an impartial investigation and cautioned against “communal finger-pointing.” It said reliance on unverified claims could deepen mistrust and destabilise ongoing efforts to maintain peace.
Authorities have yet to release official findings on the perpetrators. Security forces continue to monitor the area amid heightened tensions.
As Manipur navigates a fragile phase marked by intermittent violence and deep divisions, the ITLF’s statement highlights a broader concern: ensuring accountability based on evidence rather than assumption in a conflict-prone environment.
