COCOMI demands 'farmer safety zone', accountability
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 21 2025: While strongly condemning the targeted shooting of a farmer in Phubala area, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has demanded urgent government intervention, including the immediate creation of a "Farmer Safety Zone" with shoot-at-sight orders against unauthorised armed intruders.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, COCOMI expressed outrage over the attack on Ningthoujam Biren Singh, a farmer who was shot at "point blank range" just 30 metres away from the SSB security line.

The committee stated that the attack followed a serious breach through three layers of security, BSF, JKLI, and SSB.

"It was not a security lapse but a 'deliberate provocation' intended to terrorise farmers, obstruct cultivation, and disrupt peace in the valley region," it alleged.

The victim, who has been left unable to work for the season, now faces a serious threat to his family's food and livelihood security.

Since the attack happened on June 19, a COCOMI Farmers' Wing team has been present on the ground, engaging with terrified villagers and farmers in the area.

On June 20, a high-level COCOMI team led by convenor Khuraijam Athouba visited the site, conducted an assessment, held consultations with affected locals, and identified urgent issues to be placed before the government.

Later the same evening, the COCOMI delegation met with the SP Bishnupur, followed by a security dialogue at Police Headquarters with ADGP L Kailun, IGP K Kabib, and SP Imphal West Ksh Shivakanta.

During the meetings, several critical points related to farmer protection during the cultivation season were raised.

COCOMI has officially urged the state government and the Government of India to immediately designate agrarian belts along the foothills and canal zones as a "Farmer Safety Zone", where the presence of unauthorised armed individuals would attract shoot-at-sight orders.

The area should also be declared a No Arms Zone to protect the rights and security of cultivators.

The organisation also demanded a transparent probe into the security failure and insisted that accountability be fixed on the responsible security officials.

Referring to assurances from IGP Kabib, COCOMI stressed that "firm action and accountability, not mere words", must follow.

Other demands include the establishment of a permanent security post in the High Canal area to prevent future infiltrations, guaranteed uninterrupted access to Meetei paddy fields up to the traditional foothill boundaries, and the relocation of security perimeters that currently obstruct cultivation.

COCOMI also called for deployment of additional companies for round-the-clock mobile patrolling while retaining existing static posts.

The organisation further demanded that the injured farmer be provided with complete medical care and his family ensured economic and food security during his incapacitation.

Denouncing the contradiction between the government's "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" slogan and the lived reality of farmers in Manipur, who continue to face violence, threats, and humiliation, COCOMI demanded that the slogan be translated into "real protection for those who feed the nation".

Reaffirming its solidarity with the farming community, COCOMI warned that failure to act decisively will not be tolerated and called for immediate and just action to restore confidence among the valley's farmers.

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