Imphal: Malem Thongam, a transgender social activist and cyclist, filed a complaint with the Officer-in-Charge of Kangpokpi police through Heingang police station on Friday, alleging that the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) had threatened her life.
Talking to the media at the gate of Heingang PS on Friday, Malem Thongam stated that in the complaint, she urged the OC of Kangpokpi PS to register an FIR against CoTU for threatening her while she was on her way to the “Cycling for Manipur Peace” campaign 2025.
She said that when her peace campaign reached the Senapati district of Manipur, CoTU issued a press statement on December 17, 2025.
The statement noted that while there was tension in December 2025 regarding Malem Thongam’s “Cycling for Manipur Peace” initiative passing through Kangpokpi, CoTU opposed her movement and warned against her passage, claiming it could generate tension.
In her complaint, Malem Thongam also urged the authorities to take proper legal action against CoTU for allegedly violating Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.
The cycling expedition, which started on October 2, 2025, from Delhi’s Qutub Minar, saw her pedal across several states to promote unity in the conflict-hit region, concluding the first phase in Imphal on December 19, 2025, after a journey spanning over 2,300 km.
Cyclist Malem Thongam, who was pedaling for Manipur’s peace, reached Sekmai Police Station in Imphal West district at 4:30 am from Senapati, escorted by a special BSF convoy.
On her journey, she passed through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, and finally Manipur.
Notably, in Manipur, CoTU is a prominent civil society body representing the Kuki-Zo community, especially in the Sadar Hills (Kangpokpi District).