The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Saturday made an impassioned call to the Government of India to take immediate and sincere actions to resolve the prevailing crisis in the state, all the while urging the indigenous people to no longer be pawns in a larger geopolitical strategy.
COCOMI Media Coordinator Yumkhaibam Surjit Khuman, in a release, decried the recent brutal cycle of violence in Jiribam and held the Centre responsible for allegedly prolonging deprivation and suffering of the indigenous people of the state. The recent violence appears to be an orchestrated and provocative action by immigrant Kuki groups, aiming to further their demands for separate administration through terror tactics, it alleged.
It asserted that despite the Kuki Inpi Jiribam's attempts to defend their position, evidence has pointed out the alleged involvement of Kuki Narco-Terrorist groups in the abduction and murder of a Meetei victim. COCOMI maintained that the heinous act is clearly intended to disrupt the longstanding peace among local communities.
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The committee questioned the Indian government why it has allegedly allowed such a dire conflict to persist unchecked for so long. It further lamented over the alleged failure of Assam Rifles to pursue the actual perpetrators and instead firing live rounds at a mob and stated that the same has raised serious concerns about the government's commitment to protecting the lives and properties of its citizens.
It expressed discontentment over the preferential treatment of immigrant communities over indigenous populations and alleged neglect of the Indian security personnel in maintaining order within the state. Such has allegedly allowed armed groups to perpetuate violence unchecked, it stated.
It went on to condemn the proxy war tactics allegedly employed by the Indian government, purportedly to gain leverage in the Indo-China geopolitical arena at the expense of indigenous people of the State, revealing a disturbing pattern of state sponsored violence and political manipulation. The recent arrest of Kuki Narco-Terrorist group members from Imphal Airport involved in transnational conspiracies, as reported by NIA underscores the complex and troubling nature of the conflict, it claimed.
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It further accused the Indian government of allegedly supporting Kuki militants in a proxy war against Manipur insurgents through entities like the Assam Rifles and the Maharashtra Regiment. The government plans to mediate a meeting between the Meiteis and Kukis, while seemingly conciliatory, overlooks the broader issues of state-sponsored violence and political maneuvering, it accused.
It emphasised the need to fix responsibility for the losses and damages incurred over the past year and urged the Centre to take immediate and sincere actions to resolve the crisis instead of allegedly using local conflicts for geopolitical gains. COCOMI also extended deepest condolences to the families of the victims and said the sacrifices made by all those who lost their lives will not be forgotten, it added.
