Manipur: COCOMI condemns Churachandpur violence, terms it attempt to destroy documents of illegal immigrants

The Coordinating Committe on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent organisation of the state, has strongly condemned yesterday’s incident at Churachandpur. The organisation termed it as a pre-planned incident to burn down all documents of illegal immigrants settled in the districts.

Addressing the media in a press conference held at office of COCOMI today in Imphal, spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba said that the incident happened yesterday at Churachandpur is very unfortunate and highly condemnable. He siad that the state government and law enforcing agency should take up stringent action to prevent such instances from happening any further spreading in other part of state.

The COCOMI also said that the incident has happened in reaction to the suspension of one head constable. It was further stated that the disciplinary action was taken up against the concerned police on the basis of his involvement along with armed miscreants targeting Meitei village. 

Athouba also pointed out that contrary to this, earlier three Zonal Educational Officers were suspended because of violation of state law. He said that since no violence was occurred back then, therefore the suspension of one head constable is not an issue.

“Recently Chief Minister N Biren Singh had announced for the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants who entered the state after 1961. This declaration might have triggered the illegal immigrants to destroy document of illegal immigrants,” he claimed. 

Three protestors lost their lives and over 30 others sustained injuries during a demonstration in Churachandpur. The protest, which spiraled into violence was sparked by the suspension of a police head constable allegedly involved in firing on innocent civilians in collusion with armed militants.

The unrest saw the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police offices in Churachandpur set ablaze by unidentified miscreants. The Indian National Flag was also torn down from these government buildings.

According to reports from the Manipur police, A mob attempted to storm the Churachandpur SP office in Manipur on Thursday night, hours after a head constable of the district police was suspended after he was allegedly seen with armed men in a video grab, an official said. 

Head constable Siamlalpaul was kept "under suspension with immediate effect until further orders" by Churachandpur SP Shivanand Surve after a video of him with "armed men" and "sitting together with village volunteers" went viral on social media.

Additionally, Siamlalpaul has been instructed not to leave the station without prior permission, and his pay and allowances have been restricted to the subsistence allowance permissible under the rules.