Losii Dikho convoy attack has triggered fresh concerns over the safety of elected representatives and the motives behind violence in Manipur. The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has demanded an immediate and impartial probe into the alleged attack on vehicles belonging to Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and the Paomei Naga Tsiidoumai (PNTM) at Namdilong near Kanglatongbi on August 17.
The tribal body described the reported incident as “deeply shameful” and said the circumstances surrounding the incident require a clear investigation. It also questioned whether the episode was an isolated incident or part of a wider pattern of identity-based targeting.
CoTU seeks probe into Losii Dikho convoy attack
CoTU said the Losii Dikho convoy attack was particularly concerning because Dikho has publicly advocated peace, unity and reconciliation among Manipur’s Christian tribes.
The committee pointed to the Deputy Chief Minister’s efforts following the May 13 killing of three Church leaders. Dikho had condemned the violence and appealed for calm and de-escalation. He had also accompanied government delegations to Senapati to engage with the United Naga Council (UNC) over the prolonged blockade affecting the movement of essential commodities.
According to CoTU, Dikho travelled to Senapati twice for such engagements. On one occasion, he was accompanied by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, while on another he travelled with the Home Minister. The committee said these efforts made the alleged incident even more concerning.
Questions over vehicle identity
One of the main issues raised by CoTU concerns the reported identification of the vehicles involved.
The committee questioned a clarification issued by the Liangmei Naga Council, particularly the claim that the PNTM vehicle may have been mistaken for a vehicle belonging to Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen. CoTU asked how such confusion could have occurred when the vehicle reportedly carried the identity of the Paomei Naga Tsiidoumai.
The organisation also questioned why information allegedly identifying the vehicle as belonging to Kipgen was circulated when the Deputy Chief Minister reportedly involved in the incident was Dikho, a Mao Naga leader.
“Who spread the misinformation, and why?” the committee asked, calling for the government to establish the facts behind the conflicting accounts.
CoTU demands arrests and accountability
CoTU has called for those responsible for the alleged Losii Dikho convoy attack to be arrested and prosecuted. The organisation said legal action should extend to anyone found to have organised, encouraged or participated in the incident.
The committee said an investigation should establish four key points: who attacked the vehicles, who circulated the alleged misinformation, who organised or encouraged the incident and what motivated the episode.
CoTU also rejected attempts to connect Nemcha Kipgen to the Langka incident without what it described as credible evidence. It argued that such allegations should be established through investigation rather than ethnic narratives or political speculation.
The demand comes against the backdrop of continuing political and community tensions in Manipur. Since the ethnic violence that erupted in 2023, questions of security, identity, representation and accountability have remained highly sensitive across the state.
Wider concerns over violence in Manipur
The Losii Dikho convoy attack comes at a time when Manipur continues to face tensions involving different communities and civil society organisations.
In May, three Church leaders were killed and others were injured in an ambush in Kangpokpi district. Dikho later condemned the attack and appealed against retaliatory violence.
In June, Dikho also alleged that an armed group covered under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement was involved in the abduction and killing of six Naga civilians. He called for stronger action against armed groups and urged the Centre to help bring the situation under control.
The Deputy Chief Minister has subsequently continued to participate in government outreach efforts involving Naga and other communities. In July, he accompanied Chief Minister Khemchand during a visit to Senapati, where the government engaged with the UNC and reviewed development projects.
Government urged to establish the facts
CoTU has stressed that the investigation should be impartial and focused on facts rather than community-based assumptions. It said the people of Manipur deserve accountability and equal protection under the law.
The committee has also referred to other incidents, including the burning of villages in Phungyar Assembly constituency in Kamjong district, and called for investigations into whether those incidents were planned or coordinated.
For now, the circumstances surrounding the Losii Dikho convoy attack remain subject to investigation. Establishing who was responsible, whether misinformation played a role and whether the incident was deliberately targeted will be crucial to preventing further tensions.
With Manipur still attempting to rebuild trust between communities, CoTU’s demand for a transparent investigation puts the focus on accountability. A credible probe could help establish the facts and prevent competing narratives from adding to an already fragile security situation.
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