Central Govt offices sealed, torch rallies held
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 27 2025: Following the announcement of civil disobedience movement, volunteers of Student Wing of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) shut down several central government offices, including the Chief Electoral Officer and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) both in Lamphelpat area, on Tuesday.

Around 1 pm, the student wing volunteers stormed the GSI office, where they had a brief scuffle with the security personnel on duty.

Despite the resistance, the protesters managed to lock the office.

The volunteers then marched to another GSI office located within the campus of Trade and Commerce Department and locked it as well.

Central Govt offices sealed

They also pasted posters at the offices denouncing insult of Manipur and its people, and holding the security advisor, DGP, chief secretary responsible for the fresh bout of protests.

With reference to the Gwaltabi incident, COCOMI student wing convenor Sukham Bidananda said that the people have been demanding the resignation of the security advisor, DGP and chief secretary, as well as public apology from the Governor.

But, it is regrettable that the central government continues to ignore these demands, he rued.

In a symbolic act of defiance, members of the COCOMI student wing covered the word "India" on the signage of the GSI office, declaring that "if India does not respect Manipur, then Manipur will likewise withhold its respect for India" .

The student wing also attempted to seal office of the Directorate of Census Operations at Porompat, but were unable to do so due to the heavy presence of security forces, led by Imphal East SP.

Torch rallies held

Meanwhile, Thangmeiband Apunba Meira Paibi Lup organised a torch rally, which commenced from Thangmeiband THAU Ground and proceeded along the Nagamapal RIMS Road before returning to the starting point.

Meira paibi activists of Sagoltongba, Awang Khunou and Lanshonbi Keithel also held torches and formed human chains at Lanshonbi Keithel while torch rallies were also carried out in Wangkhei, Kwakeithel, Keishampat, Langjing and Sagolband.

Meanwhile, under the aegis of COCOMI, various CSOs, clubs and organisations and meira paibi groups took out a protest rally in Bishnupur on Tuesday, condemning the Gwaltabi incident and submitted a memorandum to the Bishnupur DC.

Protesters from assembly constituencies of Nambol, Oinam, Bishnupur, Moirang, Thanga, and Kumbi gathered at Bishnupur Bazar from where the rally commenced.

As they approached the Bishnupur DC office gate, women personnel of Manipur police, CRPF, SSB and RAF blocked their path and prevented them from proceeding further.

However, 20 representatives were allowed to meet the DC and submit a memorandum with a copy also submitted to the SP concerned.

In the memorandum, the protesters demanded that the Governor tender public apology to the people of Manipur over the Gwaltabi incident.

They also called for the resignation of the chief secretary, security advisor and DGP, and urged for formation of an independent enquiry committee headed by a sitting High Court judge to investigate the incident.

Additionally, they demanded an explanation for the removal of the word "Manipur" from an MST bus.

Hundreds of people also joined a march taken out from Lamlong Keithel in Imphal East district.

The march, headed for the deputy commissioner's office, was stopped by security forces a few hundred metre ahead, at Porompat Junction.