COCOMI criticizes Indian army over Gwaltabi incident, questions civilian authority undermining

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has strongly condemned the conduct of the Indian Army’s Maha Regiment deployed in the Gwaltabi area, alleging that their actions were aimed at undermining the authority and identity of the state of Manipur.
In a statement issued by Laikhuram Jayenta, Convenor of COCOMI’s IPR Sub-Committee, the group said the actions of the army were not only irresponsible but also aligned with the disruptive agendas of illegal elements that have been working to destabilize the region for the past two years.
The condemnation followed an incident earlier in the day, when a team of state-accredited journalists en route to cover the inaugural function of the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 was stopped at the Gwaltabi checkpoint. The media team, traveling in a DIPR-arranged vehicle, was reportedly instructed by army personnel to conceal the words “Manipur State Transport” printed on their bus.
The directive caused confusion among the journalists, who viewed it as an unjustified and humiliating order. As a result, the team aborted their assignment and returned to Imphal, later arranging alternative transport on their own.
COCOMI described the incident as a blatant insult to the state’s dignity and questioned whether Manipur was under an undeclared military rule. The organization accused the central forces of bypassing civil authority and undermining official assurances given by the Governor and other state officials.
Demanding accountability and immediate explanation, COCOMI urged the Government of India to reassess the deployment of non-local forces in the state. It reiterated full support to the working journalist community and appealed for unity among indigenous communities, warning against the agenda of groups protected under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement.