COCOMI Calls 48-Hour Bandh Over Army’s ‘Manipur’ Tag Removal Order

Imphal, May 21: The Co-ordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has announced today to impose a 48-hour bandh condemning and in protest against the May 20 incident where the Army had asked the occupants of the Manipur State Transport (MST) bus heading to Ukhrul to remove the tag ‘Manipur’ from the bus. The bus was transporting journalists to cover the Shirui Lily Festival which kick-started on May 20. The bandh will begin from midnight of May 21, which is likely to be effective in the valley districts of Manipur.

Addressing the media this afternoon, the COCOMI demanded an apology from the Manipur Governor. The COCOMI also demanded immediate resignations of the security advisor of Manipur, the chief secretary of Manipur and the director general of police (DGP) of Manipur. The COCOMI hopes for a clear picture on the issue within 48 hours from the administration.

Also read | Manipur Govt Orders Inquiry Into Obstruction Of Journalists

The COCOMI has strongly condemned the actions of the Indian Army’s Mahar Regiment deployed in Manipur, particularly in the Gwaltabi area, “which appears to be a deliberate attempt to delegitimize the authority and very existence of the state of Manipur within its own territory”.

The COCOMI said such actions are not only irresponsible but dangerously align with the agendas of illegal elements who have been persistently working to destabilize the region over the past two years.

The COCOMI said the official media team en route to cover the opening of the Shirui Lily Festival 2025, a state-sponsored event facilitated by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Manipur, was forced to return midway by security forces at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East on Tuesday.

“Shockingly, the security personnel instructed the journalists to cover up the words ‘Manipur State Transport’ printed on their bus before proceeding further”, said the COCOMI. “This outrageous directive caused confusion and concern among the journalists, who questioned the logic of concealing the name of the state while traveling within its own territory”, it also said.

Also read | Journalists Reportedly Asked To Hide ‘Manipur’ Label On State Bus En Route To Shirui Lily Festival

Viewing the order as unjustified, unacceptable, and a direct affront to the state’s legitimacy, the journalists made the collective decision to disembark from the official transport and return to Imphal. They later arranged for alternative transportation independently to return back without carrying out their professional duties, the COCOMI added.

This act represents a “gross violation” of the state’s dignity and sovereign administrative
authority, the COCOMI also said. “It also raises disturbing questions about the operational motives and chain of command within the Indian Army and other central forces deployed in the region. The fact that such an incident could take place during an official government program underscores the alarming extent to which central forces have overridden civilian governance in the state,” the COCOMI further said.

The COCOMI then said the Indian Army was deployed to secure the state and its people. “However, by acting in a manner that undermines the state’s own mechanisms of governance and security, the Army itself risks losing its legitimacy”, it also said.

(Newmai News Network)