Tuithaphai, June 25, 2025: The Hmar Inpui, apex body of the Hmar community, has strongly condemned a recent disinformation campaign falsely linking the Hmar people to calls for the delisting of "Any Kuki Tribes" (AKT) from the Scheduled Tribes list in Manipur.
On June 23, 2025, India Today North East published a report claiming that a group named “Hmar Tlangval” had expressed support for the Meitei Alliance and Thadou Inpi Manipur's controversial demand. The group, however, was identified as a ghost organization, reportedly floated by Naorem Mohen, a Meitei individual and contributor to India Today NE. Hmar Inpui denounced the report as a false flag operation aimed at fabricating tribal consensus and sowing communal discord.
“Hmar Inpui has never, and will never, endorse the agenda of any particular community at the expense of others,” the press release stated. “We remain united in our political aspirations and will not tolerate the misuse of our name for divisive objectives.”
The organization also warned about the dangers of social media disinformation, stating that anonymous campaigns circulating via WhatsApp were damaging, irresponsible, and contributed to extremist narratives.
Hmar Inpui urged the individual or group behind the misleading campaign to immediately stop spreading falsehoods under the guise of Hmar identity and refrain from further exploiting community names for political manipulation.
At the time of filing this report, India Today North East has removed the article, originally titled "Hmar body backs Thadou Inpi Manipur’s call to remove ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ from Manipur’s ST list." The move comes in the wake of mounting criticism over the misuse of the Hmar name and the platforming of misinformation.
