The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has questioned the government’s approach towards the ongoing conflict in Manipur, asking whether youths who took up arms to defend their communities during the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023, should now be treated as criminals.
In a press statement issued by Phijam Shyamchand, Convenor, IPR Sub-Committee, COCOMI, the organisation stated that when the unprecedented violence erupted in May 2023, the government failed to safeguard the lives and property of the people, compelling many youths to obtain whatever arms were available and defend their villages and communities.
According to COCOMI, many of those youths voluntarily returned to normal life as the situation gradually stabilised, driven by the desire to prevent further loss of lives and destruction of property. Against this backdrop, the organisation questioned whether the government now considers those who defended their homeland during the crisis to be criminals.
The organisation also expressed concern over the continuing conflict, asking whether the people of Manipur could realistically expect a lasting resolution under the present circumstances.
Referring to recent incidents, COCOMI alleged that Naga women were assaulted last month and that the bodies of Naga men were subsequently recovered in a mutilated condition. It further claimed that the Kuki-Zo Council had publicly admitted that the killings were carried out by its own members. The organisation questioned the silence of both the State and Central governments over the matter and asked whether such inaction reflected a genuine commitment to restoring peace.
COCOMI contended that continued inaction by the authorities could encourage further violence. While acknowledging that the present Chief Minister appears committed to restoring peace, the organisation questioned the effectiveness of the government’s peace initiatives, pointing to continuing incidents of violence and loss of life even in areas where normalcy is claimed to have been restored.
The statement further alleged that both the State and Central security forces remained largely passive during the initial phase of the conflict. It claimed that security personnel had cited the absence of orders to use force, prompting civilians to approach police stations and Indian Reserve Battalion camps to obtain arms for self-defence. According to COCOMI, those weapons were subsequently used by local youths to protect their villages, homes and communities.
The organisation also asserted that many people came to view the conflict as a proxy war within India, resulting in a loss of public confidence in the State and Central security forces due to what it described as their inability to act without explicit orders.
Referring to the arms surrender initiative announced under the President’s Rule administration, COCOMI said the government had directed individuals possessing illegal weapons to surrender them by February 27, 2025, while assuring that no FIRs would be registered against those who complied within the stipulated period.
According to the organisation, residents across the valley surrendered all weapons in their possession, while alleging that Kuki groups did not surrender their arms even after the deadline had expired.
COCOMI maintained that if the government had acted decisively and impartially during the disarmament process, the renewed violence being witnessed today could have been prevented. It cautioned that ongoing efforts to restore normalcy would not succeed unless implemented with complete sincerity, fairness and impartiality.
The organisation further argued that the government should recognise the conflict as a proxy war rather than treating it solely as a law-and-order issue. Failing to do so, it said, would only create false hope among the public. COCOMI also urged those in positions of authority not to lose sight of the consequences of continued instability, warning that if the homeland suffers further destruction, those entrusted with governance would also bear responsibility for its outcome.