Imphal, Jan 25: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) said today that it was deeply alarmed by recent reports revealing the existence of a secret underground tunnel along the Myanmar-India border, allegedly used for smuggling drugs into Indian territories (NEWS18 reports/The People’s Chronicle Dated 25 January, 2025). “This revelation poses a grave threat to the national security of India, particularly to the already vulnerable Northeastern region and its indigenous population,” the COCOMI said in a statement.
The statement of the COCOMI then said the indigenous people of Manipur have long suspected the active involvement of external and internal forces in facilitating such activities. The tunnel, reportedly capable of accommodating heavy vehicles, is located along the Myanmar-Mizoram international border, it also stated. This cannot be dismissed as merely the work of ordinary drug smugglers. The scale and sophistication of the operation point to the involvement of powerful actors, including influential entities in Mizoram and Myanmar’s Chin State, the COCOMI further said.
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“We are particularly concerned about the alleged complicity of certain groups in Mizoram, who are reportedly colluding with the United States Chin Groups to create a Christian State (Zo-land) spanning territories in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. This raises serious questions about the intent and activities of those in positions of power in the region,” it added.
The COCOMI then demanded that the Government of India declare a state of “Narco-Terrorist Emergency” in the Northeastern region and undertake aggressive and transparent actions to address the escalating narco-terrorism activities. The COCOMI also said the longstanding apathy displayed by successive Indian governments toward such serious threats has emboldened perpetrators and jeopardized the security of the region. This tacit complicity cannot be ignored any longer, it asserted.
The COCOMI said the “Indian government must prioritize combating narco-terrorism, which is undermining political stability and exacerbating the ongoing crisis in Manipur”. The increase in drug and arms smuggling in conflict zones is a predictable consequence of a weak and unresponsive security framework, it also said, adding, “We call upon the government to urgently develop and implement a transparent and robust security policy to address this crisis and prevent further destabilization”.
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It is worth noting that the American journal “Foreign Policy” has recently included the Manipur crisis in its list of the world’s top 10 most alarming conflicts, the COCOMI statement said. This recognition underscores the international dimensions of the issue and the potential for it to escalate into a geopolitical conflict extending beyond national borders, it further said. The government’s failure to act decisively risks turning Manipur into a flashpoint for regional instability, with far-reaching implications, it cautioned.
The COCOMI hereby issued a “clear warning to the Government of India: the continued neglect of the Manipur crisis and its associated narco-terrorism activities will have serious consequences”. It added by saying, “If the government fails to address the situation with urgency and clarity, it will face mounting criticism from the international community. Furthermore, the indigenous people of Manipur will hold the government fully accountable for any further deterioration of the situation”.
The COCOMI then demanded a transparent and time-bound security and resolution policy from both the central and state governments to address the Manipur crisis comprehensively.
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It also demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged complicity of influential individuals and entities in Manipur, Mizoram and Chin State in narco-terrorism activities.
The COCOMI also demanded immediate measures to dismantle the underground tunnel and other infrastructure supporting drug smuggling and illegal arms trafficking.
The COCOMI also said an official acknowledgement by the Government of India and the State Government of the geopolitical and narco-terrorism dimensions of the Manipur crisis, with concrete actions to counter these threats.
The COCOMI then said the ongoing crisis in Manipur cannot be dismissed as a mere ethnic conflict as the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his team members like Kiren Rijiju have stated in public forums. “It is a complex issue intertwined with narco-terrorism and broader geopolitical dynamics”, it stated. The COCOMI urged the Government of India to act decisively and transparently before the situation spirals further out of control. “Failure to do so will not only destabilize the region but also tarnish India’s reputation on the global stage,” it added.
(Newmai News Network)
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