COCOMI to meet MHA on crisis, air Gwaltabi incident
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 25 2025: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) would be holding an exclusive meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 27 in New Delhi to initiate follow-up action on the resolutions adopted during the Manipur People's Convention held on May 3 at Khuman Lampak, Imphal.

Addressing the media at its Lamphelpat office on Sunday, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said that the meeting, initially convened to push forward the pending political and security processes regarding the protracted Manipur crisis, will now include new agenda points in view of the recent Gwaltabi incident and the resulting public unrest.

COCOMI to meet MHA on crisis, air Gwaltabi incident

Athouba said that the incident has further aggravated the deteriorating situation in the state, with public frustration mounting over the continued inaction and ignorance displayed by the Governor and state administrators under the current President's Rule.

While expressing strong dissatisfaction over the Gwaltabi incident, the COCOMI convenor also condemned the unwarranted use of mock bombs and tear gas shells on peaceful protestors, particularly women, during non-violent demonstrations held on Sunday.

He said that resorting to such aggressive crowd control measures against unarmed civilians, many of whom were mothers and elderly women, is deeply concerning and unbecoming of a democratic and sensitive administration.

The injuries caused to several women protestors during the incident is unacceptable, and COCOMI demands that such hostile actions by security forces must immediately cease and be thoroughly reviewed, he said.

In light of the recent developments, the COCOMI delegation will also present several key demands from the people of Manipur during the meeting with MHA.

These include a public apology from the Governor for the insult to the people of Manipur, the resignation or immediate transfer of the chief secretary, the DGP, and the security advisor, all of whom are viewed as incompetent and responsible for making anti-state decisions that have worsened the situation, and an end to excessive force against peaceful protestors with accountability for.

security personnel involved in Sunday's incident.

Athouba said that a seven-member delegation led by him will represent the people of Manipur at the meeting.

In his absence, the remaining members, along with the Women's Front and Students' Front of COCOMI, will continue the ongoing public agitation in the state.

He reiterated that COCOMI remains firm in its commitment to voice the sentiment of the people, seek justice, and ensure that those responsible for the ongoing instability and disrespect towards Manipur are held accountable.

The delegates includes convenor Khuraijam Athouba, co-convenor Yengkokpam Dhiren Meetei, consultative members L Jadumani, Thiyam Bharat, Laikhuram Jayenta, coordinating committee member Phijam Shyamchand, and finance in-charge Yumkhaibam Surjitkumar.

Athouba informed that the agenda of the May 27 meeting will centre around the core issues of the Manipur crisis, with particular focus on the recent controversy surrounding the Governor and state administrators, and the demand for immediate action.

He stressed that the voice of the people of Manipur must be respected and cautioned that the continued use of violence against peaceful demonstrators will only deepen the divide.

COCOMI stands firm and Manipur shall not be silenced, he affirmed.

Mention may be made that on Saturday, COCOMI called for statewide protests, including rallies, torch processions, and sit-ins across, urging citizens to express their dissent through peaceful and democratic means.

It also announced boycott of the Governor, stating that no individual or organisation should invite, attend, or organise events involving him until he issues a formal apology.

COCOMI also launched a civil disobedience campaign against the PR administration, urging citizens to withdraw cooperation from central government offices.

However, the call exempts educational institutions, sports, healthcare, banks, postal services, and other essential services.

Earlier in April this year, COCOMI had denounced the Meetei-Kuki meeting facilitated by MHA on April 5 as a facade of peace talks, calling it a sham attempt to legitimise union home minister Amit Shah's "misleading narrative".

In a release, COCOMI stated that it consciously declined to take part in what it described as a "stage-managed spectacle" aimed at portraying the Manipur crisis as a mere ethnic conflict, allegedly triggered by the High Court's direction on Scheduled Tribe status for Meeteis.

The committee reiterated that the crisis is rooted in a larger proxy war involving Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups, which it alleged have been nurtured under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement since 2005 with the Centre's patronage.