Ukhrul | EKHON: The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has strongly criticised Tony Singsit for allegedly spreading “false and fabricated narratives” related to the Kangpokpi ambush and the ensuing hostage situation in Senapati and Kangpokpi districts.
In a statement issued by its Working Committee and Media Cell, the organization accused Singsit of spreading misinformation through a viral video interview dated 16 May, in which he allegedly blamed the Tangkhul Naga community for orchestrating unrest linked to the killing of three Thadou Christian leaders in Kangpokpi.
According to the TNL statement, several factual inconsistencies were present in Singsit’s account. The committee pointed to discrepancies between his remarks and official state reports concerning the Kangpokpi ambush and hostage incident. While Singsit reportedly claimed that “around one person survived” and that “17 majority Naga hostages” had been released, the state report cited by TNL stated that five people were injured, 16 Kuki hostages were released, and 14 Naga hostages were freed.
The Working Committee questioned Singsit’s credibility and accused him of presenting an inaccurate first-hand narrative about the Litan incident despite, according to them, being “far removed from the real incident.” The statement further alleged that some Kuki organizations were attempting to implicate the Tangkhul Naga community without conclusive evidence, even though investigations into the perpetrators of the ambush remain ongoing.
The TNL also took issue with comments attributed to Singsit suggesting that narratives about possible internal rivalries among Thadou groups were being driven by Tangkhuls. The organization rejected such claims, arguing that they unfairly portray the Tangkhul community as manipulating discourse within another tribal group.
Highlighting its role during the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023, the committee said the Tangkhul Naga community had previously sheltered internally displaced persons and assisted in evacuating Kuki students to safer areas during the Meitei-Kuki conflict. However, it maintained that recent tensions, including the 7 February 2026 incident at Litan Sareikhong, reflected growing frustration over what it described as repeated provocations and unresolved grievances.
The statement reiterated the Tangkhul Naga community’s longstanding demands regarding the conflict in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts. These include recognition of traditional land ownership rights and the removal of Kuki Suspension of Operations (SoO) camps from areas near Ukhrul district, alleging violations of SoO ground rules.mj
The TNL further urged all parties to refrain from using inflammatory rhetoric and warned against the use of “mouthpieces” that could further destabilize the fragile peace in the region.
