Protest by Meitei group forces Manipur Governor use chopper to reach Raj Bhavan from Imphal airport

Members of Co-Ordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an influential Meitei organisation were protesting against an incident on May 20, when central forces allegedly asked a team of journalists to remove a signage reading 'Manipur' from a Manipur State Transport bus.

Guwahati: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday had to use an army helicopter from Imphal airport to reach Raj Bhavan, about 6 km away, after protesters formed a human chain on his road route.

Members of Co-Ordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an influential Meitei organisation, staged protest for the second day demanding resignation of the Governor and an apology.

They were protesting against an incident on May 20, when central forces allegedly asked a team of journalists to remove a signage reading "Manipur" from a Manipur State Transport bus.

The bus was carrying the journalists from Imphal to cover the Shirui Lily Festival in Naga-dominated Ukhrul district.

On Monday, Bhalla, who returned from New Delhi and landed at the airport, had to wait as security forces feared law and order issues in case he took the road to reach Raj Bhavan.

As the forces could not clear the road due to the human chain formed by the COCOMI protesters, the Govenor was left with no option but to use an army helicopter, which landed at the historic Kangla Fort compount. The Raj Bhavan is about 300 m from the Kangla Fort.

Police had to use tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, who allegedly tried to storm into Raj Bhavan.

A similar incident happened on Sunday too. The incident took place a day before meeting betwen a COCOMI delegation and MHA officials in New Delhi to discuss the ways to end the conflict.

President's Rule:

Manipur has remained under President's Rule since February, following resignation of N. Biren Singh as CM, in view of the conflict involing the Meitei and the Kuki communities.

The COCOMI earlier alleged that no steps had been taken to restore peace in Manipur even as people expected that the President's Rule would end the conflict.

Although Raj Bhavan did not issue any statement about Monday's incident, senior Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X said, "President's Rule appears to have made no difference whatsoever in Manipur. Today the Governor had to take a helicopter from the airport in Imphal to Kangla Fort in order to reach his residence."

"Meanwhile, the PM is busy giving filmi dialogues in different parts of the country and politicising Operation Sindoor while continuing to ignore Manipur. The Union Home Minister failed most miserably and should resign for his total failure to bring a semblance of normalcy in Manipur, which he has been managing," Ramesh said.

More than 260 people have died due to the conflict since May 2023.