COCOMI Accuses Central Forces of Bias After Manipur Arson

Imphal: Central security forces stand accused of inaction and misconduct after six Meitei houses burned in Kanto Sabal village on July 11. The fires broke out in the Leimakhong area during a rally centered on the movement of essential goods. The situation turned violent by early afternoon.

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, known as COCOMI, claims a mob torched the empty homes around 1:20 pm. Locals tried to rush to the scene when they spotted the smoke. They never made it. COCOMI alleges that Punjab Regiment soldiers and other forces blocked the road with armored vehicles, claiming the smoke came from burning tires.

Tensions boiled over when the troops turned on the crowd. Security forces fired tear gas and live rounds to push the villagers back. Five civilians suffered injuries during the confrontation. COCOMI officials blasted the response as a total dereliction of duty. They stated, "The actions of the security forces had further undermined public confidence."

Authorities eventually regained control of the area. Imphal West police, the CRPF, and the Rapid Action Force arrived to contain the chaos. COCOMI is now demanding a formal investigation into the conduct of the troops deployed at the scene.