The Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) has raised a strong objection to a recent report published by The Wire, titled "As Manipur’s Arms Surrender Deadline Ends, Arambai Tenggol Is Yet to Return The Bulk of Stolen Weapons." In a formal letter to the editor on March 10, 2025, DMCC accused the media outlet of biased reporting and urged it to adhere to the Press Council of India’s guidelines on responsible journalism.
In the letter, DMCC highlighted the ongoing hardships faced by the Meitei community amid 21 months of violence in Manipur. The committee stated that over 180 Meitei individuals had lost their lives, 31 remained missing, and more than 4,500 Meitei homes had been burned down. Thousands of Meiteis had been displaced, with the remaining population confined to just 6% of Manipur’s total territory.
DMCC’s Concerns Over Media Bias
DMCC alleged that The Wire’s reporting lacked balance and context, particularly in its coverage of arms looting incidents. The organization objected to what it described as “unfounded accusations” against Meitei groups, particularly Arambai Tenggol while failing to acknowledge attacks by Kuki militants.
Citing a reference in The Wire’s article, which claimed that "The Wire has learned that Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun had taken a far larger number, much of which remains in circulation," DMCC contended that the report failed to present the broader security threats faced by the Meitei community. The committee criticized the article for allegedly omitting key facts about Kuki militant aggression and the systematic violence inflicted upon Meiteis.
Additionally, DMCC expressed concern over the media outlet’s reliance on politically motivated sources and its failure to report on the refusal of Kuki militant groups to surrender weapons while demanding a separate Union Territory.
Call for Fair Reporting
DMCC accused The Wire of selectively highlighting FIRs against Meitei groups while ignoring atrocities committed by Kuki militants. The committee questioned why the publication had not reported on incidents where Kuki armed militants allegedly attacked state forces, including a four-day assault in January 2024.
The letter further criticized the media outlet for failing to acknowledge the role of security forces, particularly the Assam Rifles, in allegedly failing to protect Meitei villages from attacks. DMCC demanded that The Wire provide a clarification on its reports and rectify what the committee described as “misrepresentations” in its coverage.
DMCC’s Demands
In response to these concerns, DMCC has urged The Wire to:
- Review its editorial approach to ensure balanced and factual reporting.
- Follow the Press Council of India’s ethical guidelines in covering ethnic and communal conflicts.
- Issue a public clarification or correction regarding reports that have allegedly misrepresented the Meitei community.
The committee warned that failure to address these issues would not only perpetuate misinformation but also damage The Wire’s credibility as a responsible media organization.
DMCC emphasized that the Meitei community deserves fair and accurate representation in the media. The organization called on The Wire and other national media outlets to maintain journalistic integrity while reporting on sensitive ethnic conflicts in Manipur.
The Wire has not yet responded to DMCC’s letter. (PR)