Manipur protestors march to Raj Bhavan, demand apology from Guv over identity row

Hundreds of protestors gathered in Imphal on Sunday, attempting to march toward Raj Bhavan as part of a statewide agitation led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). The demonstration was sparked by outrage over the removal of the word "Manipur" from MST buses heading to the Shirui Festival in Ukhrul.

 

Tensions flared near Johnstone School as protestors clashed with security personnel. Demonstrators, many carrying banners and shouting slogans, accused the administration of deliberately erasing the state's name under the guise of Presidential Rule (PR) governance.

 

Protestors were blocked at the Kangla Western Gate by security forces, leading to a scuffle. Authorities reportedly used one or two rounds of smoke bombs to disperse the crowd, but many demonstrators remained stationed around the Kangla area.

 

The unrest comes after the expiry of a 48-hour deadline set by COCOMI for the Governor to issue a public apology. The group condemned what it called an "outrageous restriction" on the use of the name “Manipur” and has now launched a decisive phase of mass agitation.

 

In a press note dated May 24, COCOMI announced a multi-pronged movement including public mobilisations, cultural resistance, and civil disobedience. Among the demands are the immediate resignation of the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and the Security Advisor, who they claim have failed to safeguard Manipur’s dignity.

 

Key components of the agitation include:

 

• Statewide public protests, sit-ins, and torch processions.
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• A complete boycott of the Governor by civil, public, and cultural bodies.
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• Refusal to cooperate with PR-appointed officials.
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• Demonstrations at strategic locations, including Raj Bhavan, the State Assembly Complex, and district headquarters.
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• The statement emphasised that this is “not a protest against peace,” but rather a stand against what it called the “surrender of governance to narco-terror threats” and “the erasure of our identity under the guise of PR governance.”

 

COCOMI declared: “Manipur is not a negotiable term. It is our name, our soul, our heritage.”