Manipur govt responds to COCOMI’s questions, appeals for peace across communities

The Government of Manipur on April 25 responded to the seven-point memorandum submitted by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity following a massive statewide protest rally, while appealing for peace and understanding among all sections of society.

Large demonstrations were held across Manipur under the banner of COCOMI, with protesters attempting to march towards the Chief Minister’s bungalow and submit a memorandum seeking answers on issues related to the ongoing ethnic conflict and the recent Tronglaobi bomb attack.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand reportedly met delegations of COCOMI representatives arriving from various areas from around 1 pm onward and accepted the memorandum.

Later in the evening, addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam outlined the government’s response to the questions raised by the civil body.

Konthoujam said the government was aware of COCOMI’s announcement regarding the peaceful rally and its decision to boycott the Khongjom Day function held on April 23. He said the government had invited the organisation for talks in view of prevailing sentiments, but the invitation was declined.

Responding to the demand to end what COCOMI termed a “proxy war” in the state, the minister said the matter was sensitive and delicate, adding that the Government of India had prioritised the protection of indigenous people.

On the demand to eliminate narco-terrorism, Konthoujam said the Centre had already announced a broader plan to end terrorism from the Northeast by 2029. He said similar progress had been made in tackling Naxalism in other regions, and asserted that all forms of terrorism would be uprooted from the Northeast, including Manipur.

Regarding the Tronglaobi bomb blast and the ambush near TM Kasom in Ukhrul district, he said both cases had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He added that an NIA team again visited the Tronglaobi blast site on Saturday and that the Chief Minister had requested the agency to treat the matter seriously and ensure justice at the earliest.

On the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the minister said the government was making efforts for early rehabilitation. However, he cited the withdrawal of some Central Armed Police Forces for election duty in other states and renewed tensions after the Tronglaobi incident as obstacles. He said confidence-building measures were continuing through visits to relief camps and dialogue with affected communities.

Konthoujam said some displaced persons remained hesitant to return due to security concerns, while others were willing to go back, and that the government was closely monitoring the situation.

On the demand to scrap the Suspension of Operations pact (SoO), he said the state government had repeatedly raised the issue, including on the floor of the Assembly. However, he noted that since the agreement also involved the Centre, the state government alone could not take a final decision.

Regarding implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Home Minister said both the Centre and state governments had already begun steps to prevent illegal infiltration and deport undocumented immigrants.

The seven questions raised by COCOMI included demands on ending proxy war, action against narco-terrorism, justice for recent attacks, a judicial probe into alleged CRPF firing that killed three protesters, swift resettlement of displaced people, abrogation of the SoO pact, and steps to check illegal immigration.

The government appealed to all communities to maintain peace and allow democratic dialogue to continue amid ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in the state.