Imphal: Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), a Meitei civil body, held a people’s convention on Saturday marking two years of Manipur crisis, pushing for peace and unity in the state.
Kuki groups observed the day as Separation Day in hill districts of Churachandpur, Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi.
May 23, 2023 was the day conflict erupted between Meitei and Kuki-Zo with the second launching attacks to the first.
“This is not just a communal issue as Union Home minister Amit Shah says. It is caused by narco-terrorists from foreign origin, supported by the central government’s proxy war through the Suspension of Operation agreement,” said Khuraijam Athouba, Cocomi convenor, talking to reporters.
It has been reportedly registered that Kuki militants groups under suspension of operation attacked Meitei villages.
The people’s convention, held in Imphal, adopted several resolutions, including a demand for the central government to take strong action against those spreading unrest and to stop opium cultivation in the hills.
Cocomi will not accept any compromise on Manipur’s historical identity or its political and territorial integrity, Athouba said.
He urged the central government to set a clear timeline for the return and rehabilitation of over 70,000 displaced people with fair compensation. He demanded the government to protect important pilgrimage sites in Manipur like Lord Thangjing in Churachandpur and Lord Koubru in Kangpokpi, similar to Kedarnath and Amarnath in North India.
Cocomi called for free and safe travel on all national highways in the state, and warned that failure to meet these demands would lead to a breakdown in relations between the people of Manipur and the government. It said it would stop cooperating with any engagement except with the central government.
Security was tightened across the state after Cocomi and Kuki student bodies called for shutdowns in valley and hill areas respectively.
Total shutdown was imposed by both sides on this day to mark the dark day in Manipur history. Imphal city wore a desert look, as so in affected areas of the state.
Displaced people of Moreh (Indo-Myanmar border town) organized a parallel event called “Observation for United Manipur” at a relief camp in Akampat, Imphal East.
“We want to return to our homes and give our children a future,” said Leishangthem Inaocha, one of the displaced persons. He urged Prime Minister Modi to treat Manipur’s crisis similar to the urgency he gave to Pahelgam incidents.
Another displaced resident, Leishangthem Tamem, said, “We don’t want fancy food in camps. We want to go home.” she said.
In contrast, Kuki-Zo areas in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal observed the day as “Separation Day,” demanding a separate administrative region. Kuki-Zo MLAs Paolienlal Haokip and Letpao Haokip joined the event in Tuibong, Churachandpur.
People gathered for a candlelight vigil at Kangla Nongpok Thong in Imphal East to pay tribute to the victims of the crisis. The vigil saw participation from various communities, including Meitei Pangals (Meitei Muslims) and Nagas.
Valley residents offer lamps at their gates paying tribute to the departed souls who fall victims in the hands of Kuki-Zo terrorists and who sacrificed their lives defending Kuki attacks.
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