Imphal, October 19, 2026: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has strongly condemned the killing of three civilians who were collecting firewood near Nongshum and Khongbal Tangkhul along the Imphal East–Kangpokpi district boundary, demanding an immediate crackdown on armed groups and the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
Addressing the media at the committee’s office in Imphal, COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren alleged that armed cadres operating under the SoO arrangement were responsible for the attack. He questioned how armed assailants could target civilians in an area where Central security forces, including the Assam Rifles, were deployed.
Dhiren accused the government of failing to protect civilians despite repeatedly claiming that normalcy and free movement had been restored in Manipur. He said the killing of people who had gone to collect firewood highlighted serious gaps in the security arrangements in vulnerable border areas.
The COCOMI convenor also alleged repeated violations of the ground rules of the SoO agreement, arguing that continued reliance on assurances of peace without effective action against armed groups had undermined public confidence in the authorities.
The committee demanded the immediate abrogation of the agreement and decisive measures to disarm armed groups allegedly involved in violence against civilians. It maintained that those responsible for the killings must be identified, apprehended and brought to justice.
Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation, Dhiren warned that public frustration was growing because of the continued attacks. He cautioned that people could be compelled to take responsibility for their own security if the government failed to fulfil its duty to protect them.
COCOMI also condemned the violence at Khangabok in Thoubal district, where Laishram Rakesh was killed during clashes at a musical programme. The committee cited the two incidents as evidence of continuing threats to civilian safety and called for urgent government intervention.
The committee reiterated that protecting civilians must be the government’s foremost responsibility and urged the authorities to move beyond public assurances by taking concrete steps to prevent further violence and restore public confidence.