COCOMI has issued a scathing condemnation of the Indian Army’s Maha Regiment, alleging a calculated attempt to delegitimize Manipur’s civil authority. In a disturbing incident, journalists covering the Shirui Lily Festival were stopped at a checkpoint and instructed to cover up the words “Manipur State Transport” on their bus
BY PC Bureau
May 20, 2025
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has issued a strong condemnation of the Indian Army’s Maha Regiment for actions it claims are undermining the authority of the Manipur state government. The statement, released today, centers on a contentious incident at Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East, where members of a state-sponsored media team were allegedly blocked from proceeding to the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 unless they concealed the words “Manipur State Transport” on their official vehicle.
The media team, dispatched by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), had been en route to cover the festival’s inauguration when they were stopped by Army personnel. According to COCOMI, the security forces demanded that the state’s name be hidden from the transport bus—a directive that shocked and angered the journalists, leading them to return to Imphal in protest.
ALSIO READ: J&K Gears Up for High-Security Amarnath Yatra
“This outrageous order is not only unjustifiable but a direct affront to the legitimacy of the state,” the statement read. “It represents a blatant violation of Manipur’s dignity and sovereign administrative authority.”
COCOMI’s Press Release:
This act represents a gross violation of the state’s dignity and sovereign administrative authority.
It also raises disturbing questions about the operational motives and chain of command within the Indian Army and other central forces deployed in the… pic.twitter.com/5uJN99THpZ
— Meitei Heritage Society (@meiteiheritage) May 20, 2025
COCOMI alleged that such behavior aligns dangerously with the goals of unlawful elements that have sought to destabilize Manipur over the past two years. The organization warned that this latest episode only exacerbates growing public distrust in the central security forces, particularly those comprised of non-local personnel unfamiliar with the region’s cultural and political sensitivities.
Civilian Governance Undermined
The incident, which unfolded during an official government event, has triggered serious concerns about the command structure of central forces deployed in Manipur. COCOMI questioned whether the Indian Army is now bypassing civilian governance entirely.
“The Army was deployed to protect the people, not to suppress the state’s own institutions,” said the group. “Is Manipur under undeclared military rule?”
The statement also pointed to assurances previously made by the Governor and senior officials, who had guaranteed safe passage and support for the festival. Those assurances, COCOMI says, were openly defied by security forces in Gwaltabi—further eroding the credibility of civilian leadership in the eyes of the public.
Call for Accountability and Unity
COCOMI demanded immediate accountability for the actions of the Army unit involved and called on the Government of India to provide a transparent explanation. It also urged a re-evaluation of the ongoing deployment of non-local forces, who it claims lack the cultural competency to operate effectively in the region.
In a show of solidarity, COCOMI extended its full support to the Working Journalist Community, particularly the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), and endorsed any collective actions they may take in response to the incident.
Addressing indigenous communities, COCOMI appealed for unity in the face of what it described as a broader and “deliberate strategy” aimed at sowing division among local ethnic groups. It particularly called upon the Tangkhul community to recognize the incident not as an isolated lapse, but as part of an ongoing pattern of marginalization and manipulation.
No Silence, No Surrender
“This is not the time for silence,” the statement concluded. “COCOMI will not accept inaction from the Governor or any responsible authority. Manipur shall not be silenced.”
