Public Review of PUCL Tribunal Report on Manipur Held in Imphal

Date: 30 August 2025

A Public Review Meeting on the controversial Independent People’s Tribunal Report conducted by PUCL, Delhi was held on 30th August 2025 at 11:45 AM at Hotel Imphal, Shiroy Hall, Imphal, Manipur. The meeting was organised by COCOMI.

The session was presided over by Khuraijam Athouba, Convenor of COCOMI and moderated by Prof. Ch. Priyoranjan (Retd.), renowned economist.

Appointed Speakers:

• Dr. Homen Thangjam – Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, IGNTU
• Dr. Malem Ningthouja – Historian & Associate Professor, Dept. of History, DMU
• Dr. Noni Arambam – Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science, DMU
• Yumnam Rupachandra – Chief Editor, Impact TV
• Sadokpam Dhiren Ambrose – Executive Editor, The Frontier Manipur

The meeting undertook a detailed chapter-wise review of the Tribunal Report. The review exposed glaring distortions and partisan biases, notably:

• Branding of the Meetei community as “Anti-India”: The Report generalizes and vilifies the entire Meetei population, portraying their democratic movements and civil society groups as secessionist. This is factually baseless and offensive, amounting to an attack on the integrity of an indigenous community that has contributed immensely to India.
• Misrepresentation of judicial orders: The Report falsely claims that the Manipur High Court directed the State Government to recommend ST status for the Meeteis, despite clarifications from the former Chief Justice that no such authority rests with the court.
• One-sided portrayal of violence: While highlighting arms looting in the valley, the Report ignores large-scale looting of weapons from police posts in the hills and the role of armed Kuki groups.
• Suppressing critical facts: The Report downplays the involvement of 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• Biased narrative construction: The Tribunal recycles discredited and withdrawn reports, including the Editors’ Guild report, aligning with separatist propaganda.

These findings establish beyond doubt that the PUCL Tribunal Report was politically engineered to demonize the Meeteis, destabilize Manipur, and malign the community before the national and international community.

Key Recommendations of the Public Review Meeting:

• Formation of a Working Group under COCOMI to constitute a committee that will prepare a fact-based Review Report to counter PUCL’s distorted narrative.
• Fixing accountability and ensuring justice against individuals and organizations that branded the Meeteis as “Anti-India” and manipulated facts for political ends.
• Recommendation to lodge FIRs under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against PUCL members for one-sided and inflammatory reporting under the guise of Human Rights.

The Public Review strongly emphasized the urgent need for responsible and balanced documentation of facts to uphold justice, safeguard the dignity of Manipuri people, and protect peace and harmony in Manipur.

Issued by:

(Laikhuram Jayenta)
Convenor, IPR Sub-Committee
COCOMI