Saikul: The Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), a constituent of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), has issued a strong official rejoinder rejecting allegations made by former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh regarding the recent tragic ambush near TM Kasom Litan in Ukhrul District. In a press statement released by its Department of Information and Publicity from GHQ Gamnom Camp, the group termed Singh’s claims as reckless, baseless fabrication and ideologically motivated opportunism.
The controversy erupted after Singh, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), attempted to pin the TM Kasom incident on KRA cadres. The KRA said such a definitive public verdict before any independent or forensic investigation had even commenced demonstrates what it called nescient arrogance. The organisation stated that the former Chief Minister is detached from ground realities and is weaponizing civilian casualties to remain politically relevant.
In its sharply worded rejoinder, the KRA also questioned Singh’s moral authority to comment on internal security. The statement said Singh shamelessly asked “how weak have we become” while lamenting the collapse of law and order, conveniently ignoring that the present lawlessness is the direct structural legacy of his own administrative failure. It argued that had the previous state administration devoted half as much energy to genuine conflict resolution as it did to policing online criticism, Manipur would not be trapped in its current cycle of violence.
Categorically refuting the allegations, the KRA stated that its organisation does not target neutral minority communities. It specifically mentioned the Gorkha/Nepali community, to which the victim in the TM Kasom tragedy, Sandeep Rai, belonged. The group maintained that it has never operated against civilian communities who have maintained neutrality in the ongoing ethnic conflict.
The KRA further alleged that Singh’s public accusation is a calculated deflection tactic. According to the outfit, the statement was designed to stir ethnic anxieties, shift blame away from what it termed state-backed actors operating covertly in the hill districts, and manufacture public consent for fresh military aggression against Kuki villages. The organisation warned that such narratives endanger innocent civilians in the hills.
The TM Kasom Litan incident, which has triggered widespread outrage, remains under investigation by security agencies. The area, located in Ukhrul district near the border with Kangpokpi, has witnessed increased movement of armed groups in recent months. No official agency has so far attributed responsibility for the ambush to any specific group, making Singh’s preemptive attribution controversial.
The KRA, which is currently under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur, reiterated its commitment to the ground rules of the tripartite pact. The group stated that its cadres are confined to designated camps and that it has consistently abided by the agreement since its signing in 2008.
Demanding an immediate and impartial inquiry, the KRA has called for a central-level investigation into the TM Kasom incident. It urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to constitute an independent team to unearth the facts and expose those who are trading civilian blood for political capital through digital propaganda campaigns.
The statement was signed by the Information and Publicity Secretary of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA). The group concluded by warning deeply compromised political figures to cease their online propaganda, stating that such actions only deepen mistrust and derail any prospects for lasting peace in Manipur.
