COCOMI Defies Manipur CM N Biren’s Appeal Not to Protest, Goes Ahead With Govt Offices Shutdown

The shutdown, which affects both central and state government offices, has been imposed as part of COCOMI's ongoing protests

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has proceeded with its call for a two-day shutdown of government offices in the Imphal Valley today ignoring Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s appeal to refrain from such a move.

The shutdown, which affects both central and state government offices, has been imposed as part of COCOMI’s ongoing protests. The committee has urged the public to cooperate with the bandh, to exert pressure on both the state and central governments to address their demands.

Earlier, COCOMI had presented a 3-point demand to the state government, which includes- a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which was recently re-imposed in areas under 6 police stations in Manipur, demand for the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of 3 women and 3 children in Jiribam and declaration of the Kuki militant outfits involved in the killings as terrorist organizations.

COCOMI had set a 24-hour deadline for the ruling MLAs to respond to these demands and proposed a 7-day shutdown. But it temporarily suspended its agitation after the ruling MLAs set a deadline for the Centre to address the 8-point resolution.

However, with no response forthcoming, the committee on Tuesday called for a complete shutdown of both state and central government offices in the state for two days from today.

Soon after, the announcement, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has appealed to the COCOMI to call off the shutdown and said that the centre has agreed to certain points from the 8-point resolution requested by the state government, including taking over three major cases related to the recent violence in Jiribam.

CM N Biren Singh also added that mass combing operations have begun to apprehend those involved in the killing of 6 civilians in Jiribam.

But despite, CM N Biren Singh’s appeal the COCOMI proceeded with the shutdown today.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday initiated investigations into 3 major cases linked to the ongoing violence in Manipur, including the killing of 3 women and 3 children in Jiribam, a key demand of the COCOMI.

The ethnic violence in Manipur continued to spread. The situation continues to escalate. In response to the worsening unrest, the Central Government has deployed an additional 70 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), bringing the total number of CAPF personnel in the state to 288.

Also Read: After 2 Days in Captivity, Manipur Doctor Rescued from Abductors, 5 Arrested with Arms and Ammo

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