Manipur: COCOMI threatens campaign from October 31, demands ‘end India’s proxy war’

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), along with like-minded Naga civil society organisations, has announced plans to launch a massive campaign across Manipur from October 31 if the state government fails to end the ongoing conflict by October 30.

The announcement was made during a sit-in protest organised by COCOMI, the Foothills Naga Coordinating Committee (FNCC) and the Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur (NHACM) at Lamphel on Thursday. The protesters demanded an end to what they described as “India’s proxy war” in the state.

Addressing the media after the protest, COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren accused the state government of making misleading claims about the restoration of peace, particularly during visits to hill districts.

He alleged that such claims had encouraged civilians to travel to areas that remained unsafe, exposing them to potential danger.

Dhiren also demanded that the government take responsibility for the killing of three Meitei woodcutters in an attack at Khongban Sunurok on October 19.

He claimed that the victims had relied on repeated government assurances that peace was gradually returning to Manipur before venturing into the area.

Alleging that the ongoing conflict amounted to a proxy war allegedly orchestrated by the Indian government through Kuki militants, Dhiren said COCOMI and its like-minded organisations would launch a larger movement across both the hill and valley districts from October 31 if their demands were not met.

The allegations against the Centre and the suspected involvement of militants reflect the protesters' position and were not independently established in the statement.

NHACM co-convenor Amana Thaimai said indigenous communities had endured more than three years of conflict, which, she alleged, had continued to expand rather than subside.

She said people were suffering in their own land and urged the state government to take concrete steps to resolve the crisis by October 30.

Thaimai warned that the organisations would intensify their movement from October 31 if the government failed to act within the deadline.

During the protest, demonstrators raised slogans including “End proxy war”, “Long live Manipur” and “Stop killing innocent people”, calling for an end to civilian killings and a resolution to the prolonged conflict.