Tear gas fired during COCOMI protest in Manipur; Meitei body to meet MHA officials

Guwahati: Security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters belonging to COCOMI, an influential Meitei organisation, who allegedly tried to storm into Raj Bhavan in conflict-hit Manipur capital Imphal on Sunday.

The protest was staged a day after the Co-ordination Committee on Manipur Unity (COCOMI) declared a "non-cooperation movement" while demanding the resignation of Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the Chief Secretary, the DGP, and the Centre's security advisor for Manipur.

The committee launched the agitation in protest against a recent incident in which central security 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 to the Shirui Lily Festival in the Naga-dominated Ukhrul district.

The journalists in Imphal also staged a protest, following which Governor Bhalla instituted an inquiry into the incident. But COCOMI demands an apology from the Governor.

On Sunday, holding placards, women and men members of COCOMI staged a protest in front of Raj Bhavan and some other places, shouting slogans against the Governor. Police resorted to tear gas firing as many allegedly tried to storm into Raj Bhavan. Khuraijam Athouba, the convenor of COCOMI, told reporters in Imphal that several women were injured, some seriously, due to the action by the security forces.

Meeting with MHA

Amid the tension, a seven-member delegation of COCOMI led by Athouba left for New Delhi for a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday. Athouba said the COCOMI team will suggest ways to find an end to the ongoing conflict involving the Meitei and the Kuki community.

COCOMI demands abrogation of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the Kuki insurgent groups and a crackdown on "Chin Kuki terrorists" to end the conflict. Athouba, however, said they are still against having talks with the Kuki groups. "Our talks are between us and the Centre," he said.

Stand of the Kukis

The meeting comes days after Kuki organisations, including 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, announced that the Kuki organisations would not hold further talks until the resumption of a "substantive political dialogue" with the Kuki rebel groups in SoO. The Kuki groups have been demanding a "separate administration" for the Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur in order to end the conflict with the Meiteis since May 2023.