In a 3.5-hour dialogue, groups including COCOMI and AMUCO rejected unilateral extensions of SoO pacts, demanded NRC implementation, and called for peace talks to shift back to Imphal.
BY PC Bureau
In a significant move amid the protracted crisis in Manipur, a delegation of nineteen representatives from leading civil society organizations (CSOs) held an extensive meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the national capital on Monday. The delegation, comprising members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), met MHA Advisor (Northeast) A.K. Mishra, Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau Rajesh Kamble, and other senior ministry officials.
The meeting, which began at 11:30 a.m. and lasted more than three and a half hours, centered on charting a time-bound and phased roadmap to resolve the turmoil that has plagued the state for over two years. The CSO leaders firmly reiterated their collective and uncompromising stand on protecting Manipur’s territorial integrity, calling any attempt to alter state boundaries unacceptable and non-negotiable.
Among the most urgent concerns raised was the restoration of the fundamental right to free movement across the state. The delegation emphasized that this was not only a constitutional guarantee but also an essential first step toward rebuilding peace and normalcy. The return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original places of habitation was also discussed at length. The CSOs urged that the process be completed in a phased manner within this year.
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The delegation also raised the need for implementing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) or a similar framework to curb illegal immigration, which they said continues to fuel instability in the region. Another major concern discussed was the potential extension of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with insurgent groups. The CSO leaders stated clearly that no extension should occur without the prior agreement of all stakeholders in Manipur.
🚨𝐂𝐒𝐎𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐫 – 𝐀 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞‼️
A big THANKS to the CSO delegation (COCOMI, AMUCO & FOCS) for conveying the people’s voice to the MHA.𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱:
🔹 No compromise on Manipur’s… https://t.co/bd8SvHoRth pic.twitter.com/amJDwpacEA— Bikramjit Kangabam (@BikramjitMK) June 30, 2025
They also requested that future rounds of dialogue between civil society groups and the central government be held in Imphal, not New Delhi, and assured their willingness to participate in inclusive discussions as long as the outcome genuinely serves the cause of long-term peace in the state.
In addition to these core issues, the delegation flagged several other matters, including the long-delayed publication of the inquiry report on the Gwaltabi incident. They submitted a memorandum highlighting concerns over farmers’ safety and the implications of a recent MHA directive mandating identification of illegal immigrants within 30 days. The CSOs also submitted a detailed report on the alleged illegal construction of a 343-kilometer road stretching along the Churachandpur–Kangpokpi axis, requesting immediate investigation and intervention.
The MHA officials reportedly gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured them that their concerns were being seriously considered. The officials also conveyed that the issues would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further action.
The delegation is expected to return to Imphal on July 2, following which they will hold a public and media briefing to share details of the meeting and its outcomes.
The statement was jointly issued by Pratap Leishangthem, Secretary General of AMUCO; Khuraijam Athouba, Convenor of COCOMI; and B.M. Yaima Shah, President of FOCS, under the banner of the Collective of Civil Society Organizations – Manipur.
