In a fervent plea the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of Meitei civil society organisations, has asked the central government to secure the Indo-Myanmar border and dismantle the infrastructure of armed militant groups.
COCOMI also called for transparent investigations into allegations of collusion between security forces and Kuki armed groups. The Centre needs to take “decisive action to secure the Indo-Myanmar border and to dismantle the infrastructure of armed militant groups within the state in a stipulated time,” COCOMI said in a statement.
A comprehensive strategy is required to address infiltration, illegal poppy cultivation, illegal arms smuggling and trafficking of drugs and also to restore the demographic balance in Manipur, it said. COCOMI also alleged that the crisis in the northeastern state resulted from “Kuki aggression” and that the India-Myanmar border has been mismanaged deliberately.
Both the central and state governments have repeatedly claimed that infiltration from Myanmar is the root cause behind the violence between Imphal valley-based Meiteis and Kukis based in hill districts.
Manipur has remained gripped by recurring bouts of violence since ethnic clashes between the two communities first erupted in May last year. At least 258 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless since then.
Meanwhile as reported by PTI , Indian Army has deployed over 2,000 personnel for the search of the Meitei man who has been missing for over a week, police said. Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, a native of Assam’s Cachar district who lived in Khukrul in Imphal West, was a works supervisor for a contractor working with the Military Engineering Services (MES) in Leimakhong Military Station of the 57th Mountain Division, according to the Army.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said he went missing from the military station, asking its authorities to take responsibility for finding him.
“Massive joint search operations by Manipur Police assisted by Indian Army is being undertaken with effect from 25.11.2024 to trace Laishram Kamalbabu Singh (56 yrs) who has been missing since 25.11.2024,” the Manipur Police said in a Facebook post on Monday night.
“Indian Army has extended all support and resources to trace him utilising 2000 plus troops, helicopters, drones and Army tracker dogs. Further investigation using technical intelligence is being undertaken,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), formed in response to the disappearance of Singh, continued its sit-in protest at Kanto Sabal, some 2.5 km from the military station, where the road has been barricaded. Singh’s wife Akoijam Belarani also joined the protests.
The military camp, located in Kangpokpi district, is some 16 km away from the state capital Imphal and is surrounded by the hills where the Kuki people live. Meiteis who lived near Leimakhong fled after the ethnic violence began in May last year, claiming over 250 lives so far. The protesters claimed it was likely that Singh was kidnapped by militants.
