Pushing back barricade at Phougakchao was moral victory: Cocomi

Imphal: Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi) has claimed that the pushing back of security barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai on Wednesday was a moral victory.

Cocomi is a conglomerate body of civil society organizations including AMUCO, CCSK, HERICOUN, LIPUL, UCM and others.

Coordinator of the committee Jeetendra said as announced, the movement was carried on Wednesday. Cocomi and people from different areas of Manipur were able to reach Phougakchao Bazaar (Kangvai). Due to some misunderstandings many people were injured from the action of combined security force.

He alleged that the misunderstanding was created by the state government. The approval to reach Phopugakchao Bazaar was given to the authority concerned. However, with delaying tactics the protestors were kept awaited for hours in the scorching sun. The mob became irated and resulting to occurrence of unwanted incident between protestors and the security forces injuring over hundred protestors including one camera reporter.

Amid the curfew imposition in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching district thousands of supporters turned up and Cocomi appreciates the support of people to the coordinating body, he added.

Cocomi also wish for speedy recovery to those protestors who were injured during the incident, the coordinator said.

Amid the ongoing crisis between Chin-Kuki Narco-Terrorist and Meitei/Meeitei some groups and individuals turn up trying to mislead the people. Cocomi is disappointed on such activities as they could demoralise the people of Manipur in the effort to save Manipur. Those who are trying to mislead the people in the movement will be taken as helping directly or indirectly to opponents. Stop such misleading activities at the earliest, Jeetendra said.

Cocomi welcomes criticism, and seeks apologies from the public. Give a room to correct mistakes, he added.

A group of youths ‘Youths of Manipur’ demanded to join all the groups in order to strengthen the present movement. Cocomi warmly welcomes the demand of the youths, however, they should restrain from dictating the CSOs by putting a deadline, Jeetendra said.

CSOs were formed with certain ideologies and joining together in the complex society of Manipur will be hard. Due to the reason joining all the CSOs of Manipur will take time, he added.

Cocomi is not afraid of anybody and anything which is against the interest of public. It will fight with the support of people, Jeetendra said, and appealed the public to support Cocomi to defeat Chin-Kuki Narco-Terrorists.