COCOMI criticised the arrest of valley youths, questioned the government's peace strategy in Manipur, and alleged inconsistent action in addressing the ongoing ethnic conflict.
Imphal, June 27: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Saturday criticised the ongoing arrest and detention of valley-based youths, questioning whether the government's approach would help restore peace in Manipur even as the ethnic conflict has entered its fourth year.
In a statement issued by its IPR Sub-Committee, the organisation argued that many of the youths now facing legal action had taken up arms after violence erupted on May 3, 2023, when, according to COCOMI, both the State and Central governments failed to protect the lives and property of civilians.
The committee claimed that as the security situation deteriorated, many young people felt compelled to seize available weapons and defend their villages and communities against attacks. It maintained that these actions prevented greater loss of life and property during the initial phase of the conflict.
"Are all those youths who saved the land now going to be branded as criminals?" COCOMI asked, while questioning the rationale behind what it described as a fresh wave of arrests and detentions in the valley.
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The organisation said the ongoing law enforcement drive raises concerns over the government's strategy for resolving a conflict that has continued for more than three years. It argued that mass arrests alone cannot deliver lasting peace and warned that such measures could further deepen public distrust.
Referring to the recent killing of six Liangmai Naga civilians, COCOMI alleged that the governments had failed to respond adequately despite what it described as public statements made by leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council acknowledging that Kuki-Zo elements were responsible for the killings.
The organisation cited the abduction of Naga civilians last month, stating that while women who had been taken captive were later released, several men remained in captivity before their bodies were eventually recovered. COCOMI described the killings as an act of extreme brutality and questioned why stronger action had not followed.
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According to the committee, the perceived inaction of both the State and Central governments undermines their stated commitment to restoring peace in Manipur. It alleged that continued silence over the incident has raised serious questions about the government's willingness to hold those responsible accountable.
At the same time, COCOMI criticised repeated assurances from the government that efforts were being made to normalise the situation, arguing that the continuing arrest of valley youths sends a contradictory message.
The organisation also revisited the events surrounding the outbreak of violence in May 2023. It alleged that security forces remained passive during the early stages of the conflict and failed to intervene despite widespread violence. According to the statement, dissatisfaction over the security response led groups of youths to storm police stations and India Reserve Battalion camps to obtain weapons after believing they had been left to defend themselves.
COCOMI claimed that many residents subsequently lost confidence in both State and Central security forces, believing they had failed to discharge their responsibility of protecting civilians.
The committee further referred to the weapon surrender initiative introduced under President's Rule, stating that the Manipur government had directed the surrender of unauthorised firearms by February 27, 2025, while assuring that no FIRs would be registered against those who voluntarily complied within the stipulated period.
According to COCOMI, people in the valley surrendered weapons following the government's appeal. However, it alleged that armed Kuki groups in the hill districts publicly declared they would not surrender their weapons. The organisation claimed that had the government acted decisively at that stage, the conflict might not have continued for as long as it has.
The committee argued that the present arrest campaign has instead created fear among ordinary residents in the valley. It warned that if the arrests continue without addressing what it described as the larger security issues surrounding the conflict, it would further burden the public rather than contribute to peace.
COCOMI also alleged that the government's approach has been inconsistent, claiming that efforts to restore normalcy have overlooked what it described as the underlying causes of the conflict. It said peace initiatives would remain incomplete if the broader security situation and continuing violence were not addressed simultaneously.
The organisation concluded by urging the authorities to adopt what it described as a fair and balanced approach to conflict resolution, cautioning that policies perceived as discriminatory or selective could further erode public confidence and complicate efforts to achieve lasting peace in Manipur.
