IMPHAL, February 10: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has expressed grave concern and deep anguish over recent incidents of arson and burning that erupted between Tangkhul and Kuki groups in Litan village of Ukhrul district on February 7.
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| Security personnel stand deployed in Litan village of Ukhrul district following incidents of arson and violence, as authorities monitor the situation and maintain vigil in the area. (TNP Image) |
In a press release issued on February 10, COCOMI said the violence was neither isolated nor accidental, but part of a “long and carefully engineered crisis” imposed on the people of Manipur through proxy politics and what it described as deliberate institutional negligence. The committee alleged that the unrest reflected the predictable outcome of policies relying on proxy forces, selective silence, and mechanisms such as the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, which it claimed had failed to bring genuine peace.
COCOMI stated that while communities in Manipur continue to suffer loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods, policymakers in New Delhi appear to be “celebrating the harvest” of decades of so-called investment. It warned that the turmoil in Litan village must be viewed within a broader context of fragmentation, displacement, and erosion of Manipur’s social fabric.
The committee strongly condemned the role of Indian security forces deployed in the affected areas, alleging that they remained silent spectators while houses were set ablaze in broad daylight. According to COCOMI, no effective or credible measures were taken to prevent violence, protect civilians, or stop the destruction of property, raising serious questions about complicity, selective enforcement, and the true objectives behind such deployments.
Holding both the state and central governments accountable, COCOMI said the recurring pattern of narrative management, administrative response, and operational conduct has deepened public distrust. It cautioned that the situation in Litan village carries a serious risk of escalation and spillover into other hill areas of Manipur, potentially triggering wider cycles of retaliation and communal polarisation.
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Referring to resolutions adopted at a massive public rally held on January 31, COCOMI reiterated its assertion that Manipur is being subjected to a proxy war rather than being protected as a constituent state of the Union. It said recent developments in Ukhrul district only serve to reinforce and validate those resolutions.
The committee urged authorities to immediately take concrete, transparent, and impartial measures to stop the violence, protect civilians, and ensure accountability both on the ground and within the chain of command. COCOMI also appealed to the people of Manipur to remain vigilant against external manipulation and divisive designs, warning that failure to recognise and resist the imposed conflict would result in continued suffering for the state.
