Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity wants to know why the government is treating local defenders like criminals. When violence tore through the state on May 3, 2023, the government failed to protect homes and lives. Desperate residents grabbed whatever weapons they could find to stop the carnage.
Many youths eventually put down their arms once things calmed down. COCOMI convenor Phijam Shyamchand noted that these people only acted to prevent further destruction. The group is now demanding clarity on whether the state views these individuals as outlaws. It remains a tense situation. COCOMI stated: "The organisation questioned the silence of both the State and Central governments over the matter and asked whether such inaction reflected a genuine commitment to restoring peace."
COCOMI claims state and central security forces stood by during the initial fighting. Troops reportedly cited a lack of orders to use force, which led civilians to raid police stations and Indian Reserve Battalion camps for protection. The organization contends this failure turned the struggle into a proxy war, eroding public trust in authorities.
The group also criticized the government's disarmament push. Officials set a February 27, 2025, deadline for turning in illegal weapons, promising no criminal charges for those who complied. COCOMI alleges that valley residents gave up their arms, but Kuki groups did not follow suit. COCOMI warned that peace initiatives will fail if they lack fairness. They believe the government must treat the crisis as a proxy war instead of a simple law and order issue.
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