The Delhi Meetei Co-Ordinating Committee (DMCC) has expressed serious concern over what it terms misleading and unverified reporting by The Hindu and East Mojo regarding the recent violence in Manipur’s Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts.
In its report dated June 19, 2025, The Hindu stated, “A Kuki woman was killed in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Thursday, hours after a gunshot injured a Meitei farmer.” Similarly, East Mojo reported that “a Kuki woman was killed in an alleged attack by suspected Meitei militants at Phubala in Bishnupur district.” DMCC argues that both media outlets implied responsibility without confirmation from any state authority and failed to reflect the official version released by Manipur Police.
According to the Manipur Police statement, at approximately 3:00 PM on June 19, a farmer, Ningthoujam Biren Singh of Phubala Awang Maning Leikai, was shot by an unidentified armed miscreant while working in his paddy field. Security forces launched a counter-operation in nearby areas including Langchingmanbi and Heichanglok. During this operation, unknown miscreants opened fire on the security personnel, who retaliated. In the ensuing exchange of fire, one woman, identified as Hoikholhing, wife of the village chief of Langchingmanbi, was found dead. Her death, the police clarified, occurred during a crossfire, not a targeted attack.
Despite the clarity of this account, The Hindu quoted a statement from the Kuki Women’s Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) that accused Meitei militants of violating a “government-declared buffer zone,” a claim DMCC strongly refutes. The committee pointed out that there is no official designation of “buffer zones” by the Government of Manipur; only “sensitive zones” are acknowledged. The attribution of the woman’s death to Meitei groups, without official verification, is misleading and potentially inflammatory, said the committee.
DMCC has demanded that both The Hindu and East Mojo issue immediate clarifications and correct their reports. It also called on media houses to uphold journalistic ethics and avoid reporting unverified allegations that could escalate ethnic tensions. “Manipur needs peace, not propaganda,” said DMCC Convenor Dr. Seram Rojesh, urging the press to act with greater responsibility during times of conflict.