IMPHAL: Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a conglomerate of several civil society organisations, has submitted an “urgent complaint” to the Director General of Police (DGP), Manipur, demanding swift and decisive action following the “armed attack that took place” at Torbung in Bishnupur district on December 16. The organisation described the incident as a deliberate and premeditated act of terror that targeted civilians and exposed serious lapses in the state’s security apparatus.
In a letter signed by its convenor, Khuraijam Athouba, COCOMI stated that the attack occurred around 8.30 pm on December 16 when heavily armed men, suspected to be militant elements, carried out indiscriminate firing and bombing in the Torbung area, deliberately targeting civilian habitations. The incident caused widespread panic among the residents and reflected what the organisation called a continuing pattern of militarised aggression and recurring law and order breakdown in the region.
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COCOMI alleged that the gravity of the situation was further aggravated by a public statement attributed to Ginza Vualzong, a senior leader of the Kuki-Zo Council, who allegedly justified and rationalised the firing and bombing. That statement, according to COCOMI, included inflammatory allegations intended to deflect responsibility and provoke hostility. The organisation said that such public justification of armed violence amounts to criminal incitement and abetment, undermining the authority of the state and emboldening militant groups to continue their violent activities.
The letter also raised concern over repeated claims about the creation of a so-called “buffer zone” between communities, a term widely circulated by Kuki-Zo organisations and other actors. COCOMI said the repeated invocation of this term, without any official confirmation or factual basis, has generated confusion, fear, and animosity among the public. It urged the state administration to issue a clear and official clarification on whether such a buffer zone exists as a formal policy or administrative measure. The organisation maintained that the misuse of this “sensitive term” could provoke misunderstanding and lead to escalation of tensions by suggesting an institutional sanction for territorial segregation.
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COCOMI’s complaint called for the registration of cases under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act. It urged the authorities to immediately register First Information Reports (FIRs) against those responsible for the attack, as well as against those who publicly justify or incite violence. The organisation further demanded the formation of a special investigation team to probe the incident, legal action against individuals or organisations promoting inflammatory narratives, and the reinforcement of security in and around Torbung and nearby vulnerable areas. It also sought an official clarification from the government on the “buffer zone” issue and a time-bound action taken report to restore public confidence.
COCOMI cautioned that continued silence or inaction from the authorities would only embolden those who resort to armed violence and deepen the communal divisions already threatening the fabric of Manipur. He emphasised that the purpose of the complaint was to protect civilians, restore peace, and uphold the rule of law, stressing that no individual or organisation should be allowed to remain above the law.
COCOMI concluded that the normalisation of armed violence and its public justification pose an existential threat to peace, constitutional governance, and civilian safety in Manipur, urging the state government to respond decisively to prevent further escalation of violence.
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