Thadou Inpi Manipur condemns NH-202 ambush, files police complaint against NPUI

DIMAPUR — Thadou Inpi Manipur has strongly condemned the ambush along National Highway-202 near TM Kasom village on Saturday, which claimed two lives. The organisation has also lodged a police complaint against the Naga Peoples’ Union, Imphal.

According to a press release from the organisation, the attack was reportedly carried out by suspected Kuki terrorist groups. It called for the immediate identification, arrest, and punishment of all those responsible in accordance with the law.

Regarding reports of a press statement issued by the Naga Peoples’ Union, Imphal, which reportedly used the term “Kuki-Thadou terrorist", the organisation stated that a formal police complaint has been lodged at the Imphal Police Station.

It stated that the term drags the Thadou community into the incident without evidence and misleads the people of Manipur by portraying Thadou as part of Kuki. Media outlets were also urged not to include Thadou in their publications, stating it is totally misleading.

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Thadou Inpi Manipur reiterated that Thadou is a distinct people with a distinct identity, history, language, culture, and institutions. It maintained that Thadou is not Kuki, not under Kuki, and not part of Kuki in any manner.

Any person bearing the Thadou name but promoting Kuki identity does so in an individual capacity and does not represent the collective will or aspirations of the Thadou people, it added.

The organisation further stated that the Thadou people are non-violent and law-abiding citizens with no militant or volunteer armed groups. It affirmed its belief in the rule of law and peaceful democratic processes.

It also stated that the continued impunity enjoyed by Kuki extremist and terrorist groups has enabled repeated violence, and the Thadou people remain among the worst victims of such acts.