The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has suspended its indefinite sit-in protest and issued a seven-day ultimatum following assurances made during an emergency meeting held on Monday night.
However, the apex body’s decision has sparked discontent among women protestors who participated in the demonstration. Demanding the fulfillment of a series of demands, COCOMI launched the protest at Khwairamband Ima Market. Women vendors joined the indefinite sit-in, even staying overnight at the market since Saturday i.e. the same day irate mobs began vandalising the residences of MLAs.
The protest centered on demands for an urgent meeting of all legislators to address the escalating crisis following the Jiribam incident, in which six internally displaced persons, including three women, two minors, and an infant, were reportedly abducted by suspected Kuki militants and allegedly killed after being held captive.
On Monday, COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba addressed the media, stating that the committee demanded revisions to resolutions adopted at a meeting convened by Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Athouba emphasised that no further discussions with the government would be entertained unless the resolutions were revised within 24 hours.
Following the ultimatum, COCOMI coordinator Th Somorendro, along with Athouba, announced to the media at midnight that the indefinite sit-in protest would be suspended for seven days.
The eight-point resolution from the meeting convened by the chief minister included a seven-day ultimatum to the Central government to fulfill the demands resolved during the meeting. Failing this, all NDA legislators vowed to consult the people of the state to determine the next course of action.
Somorendro stated that the indefinite sit-in protest was suspended considering the state government’s memorandum but cautioned that if the government failed to meet the demands within seven days, COCOMI, along with the people, would resume intensified agitation.
Meanwhile, many women protesters at Khwairamband Ima Market opposed COCOMI’s decision, leading to heated arguments with Somorendro.
One among the women protesters told the media, “They made us sit here day and night, but now they say the strike is suspended for seven days. No substantive action has been taken by the state or central government,” said one of the vendors.
Another protester criticised the perceived lack of urgency from the authorities, adding, “for the two Kuki women assaulted in Imphal, the Centre moved heaven and earth, but for us, there has been no significant response. We want to continue the peaceful strike until we see concrete action.”
A third protester expressed frustration, saying, “We have taken part in many movements led by them, but they repeatedly let us down. We no longer trust them.” Another vendor questioned, “Do they think of us as insects?”
Later, the women vendors announced that they would no longer support any future agitations spearheaded by COCOMI.
