Manipur sees widespread demonstrations led by students, women, and civil groups as central offices are locked and signboards defaced. Protesters demand recognition, justice, and accountability from the state and central governments.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, May 27, 2025 – A seven-member delegation from the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei civil society group, held a critical two-hour meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, to address the escalating crisis in Manipur. The delegation, led by COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba, engaged with A.K. Mishra, Advisor on Northeast Affairs, and Rajesh Kamble, Joint Director, to discuss pressing issues including narco-terrorism, illegal immigration, and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Meanwhile, back in Manipur, protests intensified across the valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur, fueled by outrage over the alleged erasure of the state’s name from a government bus and broader concerns about Manipur’s identity and governance under President’s Rule.
A High-Stakes Meeting in Delhi
The COCOMI delegation, comprising Yengkokpam Dhiren Meetei, L. Jadumani Singh, Thiyam Bharat Singh, Laikhuram Jayenta Singh, Phijam Shyamchand Singh, and Yunkhaibam Surjitkumar, pressed for the implementation of resolutions adopted during the Manipur People’s Convention held on May 3, 2025, at Khuman Lampak in Imphal. These resolutions, born out of a public gathering marking two years of ethnic violence in Manipur, emphasized the need for decisive action to restore peace, address narco-terrorism, and curb illegal immigration, which COCOMI alleges is threatening the state’s demographic and territorial integrity.
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In the meeting, COCOMI reiterated its demand for a public apology from Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla over the May 20 Gwaltabi incident, where security personnel allegedly instructed officials to conceal the word “Manipur” on a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus transporting journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district. The group condemned the incident as a “humiliation of Manipur’s historical and cultural identity” and called for the resignation or transfer of top state officials, including Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, citing their failure to address the crisis effectively.
The delegation also urged the MHA to dismantle the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki-Zo militant groups, which COCOMI claims enables narco-terrorism and separatist activities by groups such as the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF). “The SoO agreement has allowed armed groups to operate with impunity, undermining Manipur’s stability,” Khuraijam Athouba stated, emphasizing the need for a dedicated Anti-Narco Terrorism Unit for the Northeast. The group further demanded a transparent investigation into the Gwaltabi incident and accountability for the use of excessive force, including tear gas and mock bombs, against peaceful protesters, particularly women and elderly citizens, during demonstrations in Imphal on May 25.
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According to posts on X, the MHA assured COCOMI that action would be taken regarding the Gwaltabi incident, and the group agreed to engage with civilian Chin-Kuki communities while rejecting the legitimacy of SoO groups. However, these assurances have not been independently verified, and COCOMI stressed that the meeting’s outcome would be a “test of the Centre’s sincerity” in resolving the Manipur crisis.
Protests Erupt Across Manipur’s Valley Districts
While the delegation engaged in talks in Delhi, Manipur’s valley districts witnessed a surge in public agitation, led by COCOMI’s Women’s and Student Wings alongside other civil society groups. The protests, centered in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur, were sparked by the Gwaltabi incident but reflected broader discontent with the state’s administration under President’s Rule, imposed on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
On May 26, hundreds of protesters, including students and women, formed a 6-kilometer human chain along Tiddim Road from Imphal International Airport to Keishampat Junction, expecting to confront Governor Bhalla upon his return from Delhi. However, Bhalla, citing security concerns, was airlifted by an Indian Army helicopter to Kangla Fort, just 300 meters from Raj Bhavan, bypassing the protest route. This move infuriated demonstrators, who accused the Governor of evading public accountability. Placards reading “Manipur’s identity is non-negotiable” and “Governor must apologise to the people of Manipur” dotted the protest, with some attempting to burn effigies of Bhalla.
Tensions escalated further on May 27 when COCOMI’s student wing locked the offices of the Geological Survey of India and the Chief Electoral Office in Imphal West, defacing signboards bearing “Government of India” as a symbolic act of defiance against the perceived erosion of Manipur’s identity. In Bishnupur’s Ningthoukhong and Moirang areas, similar human chain protests were organized by groups like the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) and Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur (PLMPAM), with slogans demanding self-determination and justice. Security forces, including Assam Rifles and Rapid Action Force (RAF), responded with tear gas and mock bombs to disperse crowds, particularly in Imphal’s Kwakeithel area, injuring several protesters, including women.
COCOMI’s Demands
COCOMI’s agitation is rooted in longstanding grievances over Manipur’s ethnic and political crisis, which intensified following violence that began on May 3, 2023. The group alleges that the crisis is driven by “Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist separatist groups” operating under the SoO agreement, which they claim facilitates illegal opium poppy cultivation and cross-border militancy. COCOMI has consistently opposed demands for a separate Kuki-Zo administration, arguing that it threatens Manipur’s territorial integrity.
In its memorandum submitted to Governor Bhalla on February 17, 2025, COCOMI outlined 13 demands, including the dismantling of illegal villages, rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to address illegal immigration. The group also called for the restoration of an elected government to replace President’s Rule, arguing that the current administration has failed to address ethnic divides and restore peace.
