Imphal: Imphal witnessed high drama on Sunday as hundreds of protestors gathered in a tense showdown with security forces near Raj Bhavan, intensifying a statewide agitation spearheaded by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). The flashpoint: the removal of the word “Manipur” from MST buses en route to the Shirui Festival in Ukhrul—an act that has ignited widespread public fury and accusations of identity erasure under Presidential Rule governance.
The protest march, which began peacefully, escalated near Johnstone School, where demonstrators waving banners and chanting slogans clashed with security personnel deployed to contain the crowd. The confrontation reached a boiling point at the Kangla Western Gate, where a blockade by forces triggered a scuffle. Security teams reportedly used one or two rounds of smoke bombs to disperse the marchers, though many remained defiantly stationed around the area, refusing to retreat.
The unrest follows the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by COCOMI demanding a public apology from the Governor for what the group describes as an “outrageous restriction” on the name of Manipur. With no response, the organisation has now moved into what it calls the “decisive phase” of its movement, pledging an expansive campaign of civil disobedience, cultural resistance, and public mobilisations.
COCOMI’s press release, issued on May 24, outlines a series of actions aimed at restoring what it sees as a direct affront to Manipur’s identity and autonomy. These include statewide protests, sit-ins, torchlight processions, and a symbolic boycott of the Governor by cultural and public institutions. The group has also declared a refusal to engage with officials appointed under Presidential Rule, and vowed to stage demonstrations at high-visibility locations such as Raj Bhavan, the State Assembly Complex, and district headquarters.
Amid rising tensions, COCOMI has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and the Security Advisor, alleging that they have collectively failed to protect the state’s dignity. “Manipur is not a negotiable term. It is our name, our soul, our heritage,” the group stated, underscoring that their movement is not against peace, but against what they claim is a surrender to “narco-terror threats” and the “erasure of identity” under the current governance arrangement.
The protest marks a volatile chapter in Manipur’s ongoing political crisis, drawing sharp attention to the intersection of governance, identity, and public sentiment in a state already reeling from deep-rooted ethnic and administrative tensions.