IT News
Imphal, March 21:
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), along with like-minded Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has reiterated its demand for immediate action against Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups and strongly opposed any delimitation exercise before the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Speaking to the media, COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba accused the Government of India of failing to address the root cause of the ongoing crisis in Manipur and allowing the situation to deteriorate. He stated that without a proper identification and removal of illegal immigrants, any delimitation process would be unjust and detrimental to the indigenous people. He highlighted the recent detection of 67,000 bogus voters in the electoral rolls as clear evidence of the demographic manipulation in the state, warning that proceeding with delimitation before NRC will only legitimize encroachers and threaten the rights of native communities.
COCOMI has also demanded a decisive military crackdown on the Chin-Kuki armed groups operating in the hill areas of Manipur under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. Athouba accused these groups of thriving on drug money and arms smuggling, leading to increased violence and instability in the region. He asserted that the government’s failed policies have allowed these militants to continue their activities unchecked, putting the lives of indigenous Meeteis at constant risk. COCOMI insisted that the immediate detection and deportation of all illegal immigrants from Myanmar must be prioritized, stating that the unchecked influx since the 1950s has drastically altered Manipur’s demographic balance and led to prolonged ethnic tensions.
Emphasizing the urgent need to destroy illegal poppy cultivation in the hill areas, COCOMI held the drug trade responsible for funding insurgency and creating a parallel economy controlled by armed groups.
The committee demanded a massive crackdown on poppy plantations and strict action against individuals and organizations involved in the narcotics business. It also called for the abrogation of the SoO agreement, stating that the policy has backfired and instead of controlling insurgent groups, it has given them protection and legitimacy to continue their armed activities.
COCOMI further condemned the government’s failure to enforce the Union Home Minister’s March 8, 2025, directive to ensure free movement on National Highways. Despite the order, people continue to face restrictions, as witnessed in the case of two Meitei individuals who were forced to turn back from Kangpokpi due to security concerns. The organization also expressed grave concern over the disappearance of 18-year-old Luwangthem Mukesh from Keishampat, whose last known location was traced to Joujangtek in Churachandpur district.
Athouba warned that if the government continues to ignore these pressing issues, the crisis in Manipur will only escalate further. He criticized what he described as the double standards in dealing with armed groups, where village volunteers defending their homes face action, while heavily armed SoO cadres continue their attacks with impunity. COCOMI maintained that without addressing these fundamental issues, any attempt at peace talks or conflict resolution would be futile.
The committee reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed delimitation exercise before NRC implementation, stressing that illegal immigrants must be identified and removed before any changes to electoral boundaries are made. It urged the Government of India to take a firm stance against narco-terrorism, armed insurgency, and demographic encroachment before Manipur’s indigenous population is further marginalized. COCOMI and its allied CSOs asserted that they would continue their movement to safeguard the state’s indigenous people and their rightful place in the region.
