Imphal, Aug. 9 -- The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has distanced itself from Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's recent visit to Kangpokpi, saying the apex Kuki body had no role in organising or facilitating the programme.

In a statement issued on Sunday, KIM said the visit was arranged at the initiative of certain district-level civil society organisations in Kangpokpi. It maintained that these organisations had neither the authority nor a mandate from the apex body to host state government representatives or enter into localised understandings on behalf of the wider Kuki-Zo community.

The statement comes after Singh, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Saitu MLA Haokholhet Kipgen, visited Kangpokpi on Saturday and an...