'Kuki militants have openly flouted call to surrender arms'
Why is GoI giving them the long rope: COCOMI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 27 2025: Even when Kuki militants have openly defied the Governor's clear warning to surrender arms, no action has been taken against them, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba has said, accusing the Government of its failure to rein in the militants and resolve the Manipur conflict.

Athouba was addressing a public meeting at Young Development Union Club premises at Wangoi today when he made the statements.

After President's Rule was imposed in Manipur in February, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had sent a strong warning to armed groups to surrender weapons by March 6.Heeding the Governor's call, Meitei village volunteers surrendered their weapons in good faith.

However, Kuki militants have openly defied the Governor's call and clear warning.

The militants are still occupying bunkers and openly displaying arms without facing any action, he said.

Instead of surrendering their weapons, Athouba said, the Kuki militants have vowed to bear arms until they are given their demand for a Separate Administration.

While this open defiance of the Governor's warning calls for a crackdown against them, no such actions have been taken yet.

This inaction of the Government of India has emboldened the Kuki militants, he asserted.

Further, Athouba said that the unsuccessful attempt to allow free movement on March 8 is another in a long list of failures of the Government.

Despite Amit Shah's assurance that there would be free movement of all people on all roads in Manipur from March 8, the Government failed to open the Highways, he said.

The free movement call was openly opposed by a group called CoTU [Committee on Tribal Unity], and in their protest, many security personnel were hurt.

However, no action has been taken against them, Athouba said.

The conflict will complete 2 years on May 3.Thousands of displaced people are still unable to return to their homes and villages.

The Government, on the other hand, is implementing short term measures that would never resolve the issues, he said.

This lackadaisical attitude of the Government and its treatment of the citizens here call for the public to raise their voice, he said, urging people to attend a public convention on May 3 which would take several resolutions on the conflict in Manipur.

The public meeting at Wangoi was organised by Young Development Union Club and Apunba Meira Paibi Wangoi.

Similar meetings were held at Changangei Heigru Makhong Laibung, Iroi-shemba, Kumbi Lai Eshing Chaiba Community Hall, Langjing Achouba Lampak, Nganappi Thong, Charang-pat, Wahengbam Leikai Lairembi Community Hall, Haobam Marak, Keisham Leikai and Kiyamgei Ebudhou Khagemba Shanglen.

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