IT News
Imphal, Jan 25:
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has raised alarms over the discovery of an underground tunnel along the India-Myanmar border, reportedly used for drug smuggling, which it views as a significant national security threat. COCOMI, citing media reports, stated that the tunnel, located along the Myanmar-Mizoram international border, is sophisticated enough to accommodate heavy vehicles and indicates the involvement of powerful actors beyond ordinary smugglers. Concerns have also been expressed about the alleged complicity of certain groups in Mizoram and Myanmar’s Chin State in facilitating these activities.
The committee has called on the Indian government to declare a “Narco-Terrorist Emergency” in the Northeastern region, urging decisive action to combat escalating narco-terrorism. COCOMI criticized the perceived apathy of successive governments, claiming it has emboldened perpetrators and exacerbated instability in Manipur, which is already grappling with a prolonged crisis.
The organization highlighted a recent report by the U.S.-based journal Foreign Policy, which included the Manipur crisis among the world’s top 10 most alarming conflicts, drawing attention to its potential to escalate into a larger geopolitical issue. COCOMI warned that continued government neglect could turn Manipur into a flashpoint for regional instability, with implications extending beyond national borders.
The committee issued demands for a transparent, time-bound policy from both central and state governments to resolve the crisis comprehensively. It also called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of influential entities in Manipur, Mizoram, and Chin State in narco-terrorism, alongside immediate measures to dismantle the underground tunnel and other infrastructure supporting illicit activities.
COCOMI also criticized the characterization of the Manipur crisis as merely an ethnic conflict, as described by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and others. The group argued that the issue is deeply intertwined with narco-terrorism and broader geopolitical dynamics, urging the government to act decisively and transparently to prevent further deterioration and protect India’s global reputation.