Imphal | The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), along with like-minded Naga civil society organisations, has threatened to launch a large-scale campaign across Manipur from October 31 if the state government fails to take concrete steps to end the ongoing conflict by October 30.

The announcement was made during a sit-in protest organised by COCOMI, the Foothills Naga Coordinating Committee (FNCC) and the Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur (NHACM) at Lamphel on Thursday. The protesters demanded an end to what they described as “India’s proxy war” in the state.

Addressing the media after the protest, COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren accused the state government of making misleading claims about the restoration of peace, particularly during visits to hill districts.

He alleged that assurances about improving security had encouraged civilians to travel to areas that remained unsafe, potentially exposing them to further danger.

Dhiren also demanded that the government take responsibility for the killing of three Meitei woodcutters in an attack at Khongban Sunurok on October 19. He claimed that the victims had relied on government assurances that normalcy was gradually returning before venturing into the area.

COCOMI alleges continued conflict

Dhiren alleged that the continuing violence amounted to a proxy war being orchestrated by the Indian government through Kuki militants. He said COCOMI and its supporting organisations would expand their movement across both the hill and valley districts if their demands were not met by the October 30 deadline.

The allegations against the Centre and the claimed involvement of militants reflect the protesters’ position and have not been independently established.

The proposed campaign comes amid continuing concerns over civilian safety and the prolonged ethnic conflict in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023.

Naga organisations call for concrete action

NHACM co-convenor Amana Thaimai said indigenous communities had endured more than three years of conflict and alleged that the situation had continued to worsen rather than improve.

She said people were suffering in their own land and urged the state government to take decisive steps to resolve the crisis within the stipulated timeframe.

Thaimai warned that the organisations would intensify their agitation from October 31 if the government failed to respond to their demands.

During the sit-in, demonstrators raised slogans such as “End proxy war”, “Long live Manipur” and “Stop killing innocent people”, calling for an end to civilian killings and a resolution to the prolonged unrest.

With October 30 set as the deadline, attention is now on the state government’s response and whether the organisations proceed with their proposed statewide campaign from the following day.