Manipur: Protestors lock central offices over government’s inaction on state crisis

Tensions escalated in Manipur as protestors led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) locked several central government offices on November 17, condemning the central government's inaction in addressing the ongoing crisis.

COCOMI had issued a 24-hour ultimatum on November 16 to the central and state governments, demanding a military crackdown on armed Chin-Kuki groups, whom they labelled as "narco-terrorists" operating under suspension of operation agreements.

Following the government’s failure to act, protestors, including student representatives from COCOMI, stormed and locked key offices, including- the Election Commission of India (ECI) office at Lamphel, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) office at Takyel, GST Bhavan at Thambalkhong.

This action comes after repeated warnings by COCOMI that such protests would be initiated if their demands remained unaddressed.

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In addition to the office lock-ins, COCOMI has continued its indefinite sit-in protest at Ima Market, which began on November 16. The demonstrators are condemning the government’s failure to protect lives and property amidst the ongoing violence.

Protestors have specifically highlighted the recent killings of innocent women and children, allegedly by armed Kuki militants, as a flashpoint for their anger. They are demanding justice for the victims, calling the acts "cold-blooded murders" and decrying the government's inability to ensure accountability or safety.

The protests reflect a growing frustration among sections of the Manipuri population, who feel that both the central and state governments have failed to address the ethnic violence and restore peace. As the crisis deepens, these demonstrations are expected to intensify, further testing the government’s ability to respond to the situation effectively.

The central and state authorities have yet to issue a detailed response to the ongoing protests or take concrete steps to address COCOMI's demands.