IMPHAL, June 23: The Defence Ministry has categorically denied claims that the Indian Army was involved in any agreement that led to the withdrawal of an indefinite shutdown in Manipur’s Churachandpur district. The shutdown, called by the Kuki group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), was reportedly lifted after a settlement was reached with the district administration under tribal customary law.

The Defence Ministry issued a sharp rebuke to sections of the local media for spreading what it described as “misinformation,” particularly news reports that implied the Army had brokered or participated in a resolution. A spokesperson clarified, “The Army is neither involved nor has made any agreement, as mentioned in reports. Such misinformation harms the peace process — media is urged to verify with authorised sources before publishing.”

This clarification follows reports from media outlets that cited the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), another Kuki organisation, and carried headlines such as “COTU Calls Off Shutdown” and “Shutdown Over Langchingmanbi Killing Called Off.” The Defence Ministry labelled these reports “false and baseless.”

The ITLF had enforced the shutdown after a woman, Hoikholhing Haokip — wife of the Langchingmanbi village chief — was killed during a crossfire between security forces and unidentified armed miscreants. The confrontation occurred on June 19 in Langchingmanbi village when security forces were conducting a search operation in response to an earlier attack on a Meitei farmer in Bishnupur district’s Phubala area.

According to the Manipur Police, the woman was fatally injured when the joint forces came under fire while combing through Langchingmanbi, Heichanglok, and parts of Phubala. “During the crossfire, one woman from Langchingmanbi village was found dead with a bullet injury,” the police stated.

Following intense protests and disruptions caused by the shutdown, the ITLF on Saturday announced its immediate withdrawal, citing an amicable settlement reached with the Churachandpur district administration, as per a statement issued by ITLF’s office in Tuibong. The resolution, it said, followed traditional tribal procedures.