The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has vehemently condemned the tragic incident that unfolded in Churachandpur recently. Describing it as a premeditated act, COCOMI asserted that the incident was orchestrated to destroy crucial documents pertaining to Kuki immigrants residing in the district. During a press conference held at the COCOMI office, spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate events and emphasized the urgent need for the state government and law enforcement agencies to take decisive measures to prevent such incidents from recurring and spreading to other parts of the state.
The violence erupted following the suspension of a head constable, allegedly due to his involvement with a Kuki extremist group targeting a Meitei village. Athouba clarified that while disciplinary actions, such as suspensions, have been taken in the past without resulting in violence, this recent incident highlights deeper tensions within the community.
COCOMI suggested that recent statements by Chief Minister N Biren Singh regarding the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants who entered after 1961 may have fueled the destruction of documents by Kuki immigrants. This tragic incident saw the vandalization of the SP office, the burning of the mini-secretariat, and the removal of the national flag by a Kuki mob.