As violence persists in regions like Jiribam, where eight civilians were recently killed, Manipur faces a critical juncture. Can the state strike a balance between ensuring security and addressing the grievances of its people? The road ahead demands more than military action; it requires meaningful dialogue, accountability, and a commitment to lasting peace.
BY PC Bureau
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body representing the Meitei community, has announced a boycott of Union Home Minister Amit Shah pressing for lifting AFSPA and the removal of two Kuki ministers from Chief Minister Biren Singh’s cabinet.
The organization also declared a two-day shutdown of all Central and State Government offices, effective immediately, excluding educational institutions and essential services.
Speaking to the media at COCOMI’s Lamphelpat office on Tuesday, Coordinator Somorendro Thokchom stated that the decision was made following the State Government’s failure to act decisively after the massacre of eight people, including three children and three women, by Kuki-Zo-Hmar militants in Jiribam.
Somorendro highlighted that NDA MLAs had recently passed resolutions urging the Government of India to lift AFSPA, launch a military crackdown against Kuki militants, declare Kuki militant groups as unlawful organizations, and implement these measures within seven days. With the deadline now expired, COCOMI has resolved to intensify its agitation, blaming New Delhi for allegedly fueling a “proxy war.”
The boycott of the Home Minister will remain in place until the violence subsides and the demands of the people are addressed. Somorendro also warned that failure to remove the two Kuki ministers from the cabinet would lead to more aggressive protests.
COCOMI appealed to youth clubs, Meira Paibi organizations, and the public to support the agitation, urging government employees to refrain from attending work for the next two days. The next phase of protests will be announced following the shutdown. Somorendro emphasized that the State Government, which claims to act in alignment with public sentiment, must clarify its next steps.
Separately, hundreds of women organized a protest rally in Imphal on Monday, demanding the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the state. The rally, held in Imphal East district, was spearheaded by various groups, including the Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Nupi Khunai (Yairipok), and Meira Paibis.
Despite the protests, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 14 reimposed AFSPA in six police station areas across five districts, citing the volatile security situation amidst ongoing ethnic violence. The affected areas include Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Moirang in Bishnupur district. The MHA’s notification grants additional powers to the army and paramilitary forces to combat militants and armed groups in these regions.
