Bid to undermine State authority: COCOMI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 20 2025: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has vehemently condemned the Indian Army's attempt to deligitimize the authority and the very existence of the State of Manipur within its own territory.

In a glaring incident today, an official media team enroute to cover the opening of the Shirui Lily Festival 2025, a State-sponsored event facilitated by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Manipur, was forced to return midway by the Indian Army's Mahar Regiment at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East.

Shockingly, the security personnel instructed the journalists to cover up the words "Manipur State Transport" printed on their bus before proceeding further.

This outrageous directive caused confusion and concern among the journalists, who questioned the logic of concealing the name of the State while travelling within its own territory.

Viewing the order as unjustified, unacceptable, and a direct affront to the State's legitimacy, the journalists made the collective decision to disembark from the official transport and return to Imphal.

They later arranged for alternative transportation independently to return without carrying out their professional duties.

This act represents a gross violation of the State's dignity and sovereign administrative authority.

It also raises disturbing questions about the operational motives and chain of command within the Indian Army and other Central forces deployed in the region.

The fact that such an incident could take place during an official Government programme underscores the alarming extent to which Central forces have overridden civilian governance in the State, COCOMI asserted in a statement.

Such actions are not only irresponsible but dangerously align with the agendas of illegal elements who have been persistently working to destabilize the region over the past two years, it said.

The Indian Army was deployed to secure the State and its people.

However, by acting in a manner that undermines the State's own mechanisms of governance and security, the Army itself risks losing its legitimacy.

It appears the chain of command now bypasses civil authority altogether, begging the question: Is Manipur under undeclared military rule?, COCOMI asked.

The Governor, along with other officials who had earlier made assurances for peaceful and secure movement during the ongoing festival, have now been openly defied by their own security apparatus.

This contradiction is glaring in areas like Gwaltabi, where the Mahar Regiment has actively disregarded the State's directives.

On behalf of the people of Manipur, COCOMI has demanded an immediate and reasonable explanation for these unprecedented actions.

The officers and units concerned must be held accountable, and appropriate measures must be taken without delay.

For the past two years, the Central forces have remained under suspicion of the general public for their partiality and controversial role in the crisis.

Today's incident has only deepened that mistrust.

These actions do not contribute to restoring public confidence or maintaining peace, it said.

It is high time the Government of India critically reviews its policy of deploying non-local security forces who lack basic understanding of the region's cultural fabric, historical sensitivities, and the people's psyche, it asserted.

The COCOMI has also declared its full and unconditional support to the working journalist community, particularly AMWJU, and stands by all collective actions and decisions taken in the face of this grave situation.

"We also call upon our Tangkhul brethren to view this incident not merely as a lapse or mistake, but as part of a broader and deliberate design aimed at breaking the growing unity and mutual trust that has been forged among indigenous communities.

It is imperative that we remain united and resolute against the hostile agenda of immigrant armed groups protected under the questionable Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement", it said.

"COCOMI will not tolerate inaction on the part of the Governor or any responsible State or Central authority.

COCOMI stands firm.

Manipur shall not be silenced", it added.

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