The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Thursday served a five-day ultimatum to the central forces deployed in Manipur to initiate stringent security measures against Kuki militants responsible for a drone bomb attack that killed a 31-year-old woman and injured several others in Koutruk village on September 1.
COCOMI also cautioned authorities concerned that the committee, along with the people, would resort to series of mass protests to withdraw the central forces if no actions were initiated within the deadline.
COCOMI will organise a statewide human chain protest on September 6, from 11 am to 1 noon, to express discontentment with the government’s handling of the conflict.
Speaking to the media at the COCOMI office in Imphal, COCOMI coordinator Somorendro Thokchom lambasted the central forces for their total failure to rein in the security noose and allegedly allowing attacks from Kuki terrorists to escalate.
“If the central forces cannot take action against these terrorists, they should leave Manipur,” he added.
He noted that frustration and tension was mounting among the Meiteis over the lack of amicable response from both the central and state government.
Meanwhile, he highlighted that the human chain protest would demand the removal of Manipur’s security advisor and Director General of Police (DGP) for their failure to control the escalating conflict.
Somorendro also expressed serious concerns regarding the use of drone bombs calling it a national security threat.
COCOMI further alleged that foreign hands were at play in the conflict, particularly from the USA and China.
The ongoing conflict could have wider implications on national security, he added.
As such, COCOMI reiterated its demand to withdraw central forces within five days if they failed to initiate suitable security measures to rein in the situation in Manipur.
