Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) is sounding the alarm. It warned the Indian government against handing over Manipur soil to Myanmar. Phijam Shyamchand, convener of the group, issued the statement following a July 17, 2026, report by journalist Rajeev Bhattacharya in The Diplomat. The report alleges New Delhi plans to transfer 1.4 square miles of land in Chandel district to Myanmar.
This area sits between Border Pillars 65 and 68. A Ministry of External Affairs document from May 26, 2026, reportedly pushed to finish this border work within three months. The land is near the Kabaw Valley and Myanmar’s Sagaing Region. COCOMI noted the document mentions no land coming back to India in this trade. "If the contents of the report are true and the proposal is translated into action, COCOMI will not remain a silent spectator," the group stated.
Manipur’s borders remain non-negotiable for the organization. They claim ancestors defended this land for generations. The state has already lost territory since its 1949 merger with the Indian Union. Further losses are off the table. COCOMI urged New Delhi not to play with fire by ignoring local consent. They specifically pointed to unresolved disputes at Border Pillars 64-68 in Molcham, 75-79 in Moreh, and 88-95 in Choro Khunou.
Successive governments have failed these regions. A 2000 Cabinet Sub-Committee failed to settle the mess. Reports suggest the boundary issue and auxiliary pillars in Molcham surfaced during Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing’s recent visit to India. COCOMI now demands to know if better relations with Myanmar come at the expense of Manipur.
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