COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren alleged at a post-rally press briefing that individuals are spreading baseless accusations against the organisation and physically assaulting its members to disrupt the public movement. Co-convener N Shanta separately accused Facebook page 'Awonba Manipur' of inciting.
IMPHAL – COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren held a press briefing at the organisation's office in Lamphel on Saturday, addressing what he described as a deliberate and organised attempt to mislead the ongoing public movement spearheaded by COCOMI and distort its stated objectives. Dhiren confirmed that a memorandum containing seven questions on the prevailing situation in the state had been submitted to the government earlier in the day.
He stated that members of COCOMI, along with the public, had marched from the Lamphel office toward the Chief Minister's Bungalow but were stopped by security forces at the western gate of Kangla. Following discussions with security personnel, a three-member team — escorted by security forces — proceeded to the Chief Minister's Secretariat and submitted the memorandum at the receipt section. Dhiren was clear that the team did not meet the Chief Minister in person, stating that this decision was in full accordance with COCOMI's stated position of not engaging in direct talks with the government until clear and satisfactory responses to all seven questions are provided. After returning, the team briefed the people waiting at the western gate of Kangla on the submission process. Dhiren reiterated that the movement will continue until the government responds clearly and satisfactorily to each of the questions raised.
Dhiren alleged that in the aftermath of the memorandum submission, certain individuals began levelling baseless allegations against COCOMI leaders — accusing them of corruption and claiming that members had gone into hiding. He categorically rejected these claims, stating that they are entirely unfounded and intended to create confusion and mistrust among the public.
He further alleged that some individuals resorted to physically assaulting COCOMI members during the course of the day's events. Dhiren described such acts as a deliberate attempt to create mistrust within the movement, disrupt its unity, misrepresent the people's agitation, and divert it from its intended course. "Such actions are aimed at misrepresenting the people's agitation and diverting it from its intended course," he said. Dhiren added that COCOMI is actively working to identify those involved in these activities and appealed to the public to remain vigilant and assist in identifying individuals attempting to mislead the movement, so that appropriate collective action can be taken against them.
Later in the day, COCOMI co-convener Nahakpam Shanta went a step further during a television debate, directly naming a Facebook page called 'Awonba Manipur' as being responsible for the chaos and violence that occurred during the rally. Shanta alleged that the page has been systematically uploading inflammatory and unfounded posts targeting COCOMI members, thereby instigating the public against the organisation. He stated that the content spread through this page played a direct role in provoking the unrest witnessed on the ground during Saturday's events, and called for accountability for those running and amplifying such content.
