COCOMI begins office shutdown agitation
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 27 2024: Apart from announcing boycott of Union home minister Amit Shah, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) began its two-day shutdown of state and central government offices in the state on Wednesday.

A day earlier, COCOMI had announced renewed wave of protests following the state government's inaction regarding the committee's demands made a week back.

The committee had set a deadline of seven days for the government to address several key issues, including repeal of the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from areas under six police stations in the valley districts, where the pro-military law was re-imposed by the Centre.

With the government failing to honour the demands within the specified period, COCOMI announced renewed protests, including a two-day shutdown of state and central government offices.

On Wednesday, the first day of the stir, a large number of COCOMI volunteers descended on key government offices in Babupara area, locked the Transport Department as well as offices in both the Old and New Secretariats, effectively sending the employees home.

COCOMI volunteers positioned themselves at the main entrance of the Old Secretariat complex, and staged a protest when police attempted to stop them from entering the office premises.

However, no untoward incidents occurred, as top officials from the police department quickly intervened and engaged in dialogue with the protesters.

Later, COCOMI volunteers locked down the Relief and Disaster Management office at Babupara, as well as the Forest Department office near Sanjenthong, instructing employees and officials to head home.

They also closed the offices at the DC Imphal East complex, Porompat, forcing all staff and officers to leave their offices.

Regarding the stir, COCOMI Students' Front coordinator Ningthoujam Dhanakumar addressed the media, stating that the shutdown was enforced as operating offices under the failed state government no longer serves any purpose.

He appealed to all employees and officials of both state and central government offices to abstain from work on Thursday as well.

Commenting on chief minister N Biren Singh's assertion that nearly 80 percent of COCOMI's demands had been addressed, Dhanakumar contended that COCOMI is unaware of the chief minister s claims, and that the protest was initiated in response to public discontent.

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