A recently surfaced audio clip featuring a conversation between former Assistant Superintendent of Police Thounaojam Brinda and senior journalist Yambem Laba discussing the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has gained widespread attention. The telephonic discussion, dated October 3, led to Brinda alleging that the Meitei civil society organization, Arambai Tenggol, was responsible for "burning houses" within their own community.
After the audio clip went viral, Brinda's residence was reportedly ransacked on Monday. In response, she held a press conference on Tuesday, retracting her statement. Yambem Laba, the senior journalist involved in the conversation, took to Facebook to deny any involvement in recording or leaking the audio clip, asserting that he and Brinda have both been critical of the state and intend to uncover the truth.
In a video uploaded by Laba, he stated, "Brinda has also clarified that she was wrong. She did not say that she didn't make those statements, but she said she was wrong." Laba emphasized that recording phone calls and releasing audio clips are beyond his journalistic ethics.
This incident is not the first time Brinda has faced controversy regarding statements made during the ethnic violence. In October, another audio clip went viral, prompting Brinda to claim she was "misinformed" after blaming Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, another civil society organization, for the violence.
The Manipur ethnic violence erupted in May, resulting in clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The aftermath saw over 150 fatalities and more than 3,000 injuries, sparked by violence following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. In August, the Supreme Court formed a committee of three former high court judges to address relief and rehabilitation efforts in the state.
