Hundreds of protestors gathered in Imphal on Sunday, aiming to march toward Raj Bhavan as part of a statewide agitation organized by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). The demonstration was fueled by anger over the removal of the word “Manipur” from MST buses heading to the Shirui Festival in Ukhrul.
Tensions escalated near Johnstone School when protestors clashed with security personnel. Many demonstrators, holding banners and chanting slogans, accused the government of intentionally erasing the state’s name under the pretext of Presidential Rule (PR) governance.
Blocking protestors at the Kangla Western Gate, security forces provoked a scuffle. Reports indicate that authorities deployed smoke bombs to disperse the crowd, yet many demonstrators continued to gather around the Kangla area.
The unrest follows the expiration of a 48-hour deadline set by COCOMI for the Governor to publicly apologize. The group condemned the alleged “outrageous restriction” on using the name “Manipur” and declared it has entered a crucial phase of mass agitation.
In a press release dated May 24, COCOMI outlined a multi-faceted movement featuring public mobilizations, cultural resistance, and civil disobedience. They demand the immediate resignation of the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Security Advisor, asserting that these officials have failed to protect the dignity of Manipur.
Among the key actions planned are statewide protests, sit-ins, and torch processions, along with a complete boycott of the Governor by civil and cultural organizations. Additionally, the group has pledged not to cooperate with PR-appointed officials and to hold demonstrations at significant locations, including Raj Bhavan, the State Assembly Complex, and district headquarters.
The statement clarified that this agitation is “not a protest against peace,” but rather a stance against what they described as the “surrender of governance to narco-terror threats” and “the erasure of our identity under the guise of PR governance.” COCOMI emphatically stated: “Manipur is not a negotiable term. It is our name, our soul, our heritage.”
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/video/manipur-protestors-march-to-raj-bhavan-demand-apology-from-guv-over-identity-row-1218967-2025-05-25?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-05-25 15:50:00
