Northeast Desk, 2nd September: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has strongly condemned the recent aerial bombing in Koutruk village, Imphal West District, on September 1, allegedly carried out by Kuki militants using drones and an ambulance as cover. The attack, which resulted in the death of a 31-year-old mother and injuries to her daughter and nine village volunteers, has been labeled by COCOMI as a serious war crime.
In a statement released on September 2, COCOMI highlighted the misuse of an ambulance, reportedly from the Leimakhong area, by the militants. This act, described as a “flagrant abuse of humanitarian services,” involved the armed group disguising their attack as an emergency service operation. The statement noted that disturbing video evidence has emerged showing Kuki militants celebrating inside the ambulance following the attack, further emphasizing the lack of ethical restraint in their actions.
COCOMI also pointed out that the Kuki Inpi, a prominent Kuki organization, issued a press release immediately after the attack, which they believe was a premeditated attempt to cover up the incident. This release, according to COCOMI, misled several media outlets by downplaying the severity of the attack. The Manipur Police have stated that sophisticated drones were used in the assault, contradicting the initial claims made by Kuki Inpi.
The statement from COCOMI also accused Kuki Inpi of spreading false narratives, including misleading accounts of historical treaties like the Moirang Treaty of Brotherhood, as part of their broader propaganda efforts.
The incident has further heightened tensions in the region, with calls for accountability and justice growing louder from various quarters.
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