The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI)’s sharp criticism of the way Chief Minister Biren Singh’s administration handled the state protracted unrest, has further dented the CM’s credibility in the strife-ridden state. This development—Singh’s criticism by the apex body of his own Meitei community– should serve as a wake-up call for the central government, which has so far resisted calls to remove Singh despite his glaring failure to manage the volatile situation.
COCOMI has squarely held Singh’s administration responsible for the cycle of violence engulfing Manipur, attributing the state’s ongoing ethnic conflict to a “lack of genuine political leadership.”
Thockhom Somorendro, COCOMI’s Coordinator, accused political leaders of prioritizing party interests over public welfare, criticizing both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress for their inaction in addressing the deteriorating conditions in Kangpokpi district and the state at large.
Acting on specific intelligence, troops of #IndianArmy and #AssamRifles formations under #SpearCorps carried out joint search operations in the hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Thoubal, Kangpokpi and Imphal West in #Manipur, in close… pic.twitter.com/jOmUpGhz4e
— SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) January 5, 2025
Singh, often portrayed as a “villain” by the Kuki-Zo community, now faces denouncement from within his own Meitei community—a potentially devastating blow to his already fragile credibility. With a new governor already in place, the pressing question remains: will the central government finally compel Singh to step aside for a more acceptable leader, one capable of steering Manipur toward stability? The answer will likely shape the state’s future.
COCOMI criticizes law and order, corruption, and lack of political leadership
Thockhom Somorendro, the Coordinator of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, raised serious concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Kangpokpihttps://t.co/JlF6UI2ntH
— Imphal Times (@ImphalTimes) January 5, 2025
Somorendro accused the state’s security apparatus of incompetence, singling out the Director General of Police and the government’s Security Advisor for their inability to handle the crisis effectively. He highlighted a mob attack on the Kangpokpi Superintendent of Police’s office on January 3, which left SP Manoj Prabhakar injured, yet no action was taken against the assailants.
The COCOMI leader also condemned the recent killing of a Meitei village volunteer by security forces and the arrests of individuals defending their communities. He claimed the security forces were “partial and biased,” failing to curb escalating unrest.
Addressing the ongoing blockade of National Highway (NH-2) by certain groups, Somorendro criticized the inaction of the large contingent of security forces stationed in the state. “A proxy war has been going on in Manipur,” he alleged.
Somorendro further accused the state government of widespread corruption, pointing to exorbitant costs for securing government jobs. He lamented that corruption had become normalized, preventing progress and eroding public trust in leadership. “People’s dependence on Ministers and MLAs has created a situation where trust in leadership is virtually non-existent,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has temporarily lifted its indefinite economic blockade on NH-2 and the 24-hour shutdown in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi. The decision came after an agreement with authorities to deploy CRPF personnel in the Saibol region of Kangpokpi’s Lhungtin Subdivision. However, CoTU warned of renewed and intensified protests if remaining Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) units are not withdrawn from Kuki-Zo inhabited areas within 48 hours.
