COCOMI declares indefinite emergency in Manipur after Kuki militant attack

After Friday's attacks by Kuki militants in Bishnupur district, which killed one person and left 6 others injured, the spokesperson of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Khuraijam Athouba, said that there has increased Kuki aggression in the region and declared an indefinite public emergency.

According to the Manipur Police the Kuki militants deployed long-range rockets among the civilian population in attacks on two locations of Bishnupur District

"The escalation of Kuki aggression has increased double-fold again. Over the past few days there were several incidents of drone bombing in Imphal West, killing several people and injuring many others, and today again there have been two missile attacks, which have been shot from a very long range around 7 kilometres. It is being considered one of the deadliest attacks by the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups who had taken refuge in the surrounding hilly areas," said Athouba.

A team of Mobile Forensic Unit collected evidence of a rocket shell after an attack in Bishnupur district. According to the COCOMI spokeperson the attack targeted the residence of the first Chief Minister of Manipur, Mairembam Koireng Singh, leading to the statue and the residence at the site being damaged.

"There has been an increase in Kuki aggression... There have been incidents of drone bombing in the last few days... There were two missile attacks today... It has targeted the home land of Mairembam Koireng Singh, the first chief minister of Manipur. His statue and property have been destroyed... The situation is out of control," the COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba claimed.

"This is not an ordinary attack, because the missile has travelled from the hills to reach this place. The central forces who are being deployed in the foothill areas to take care of the Kuki armed groups from doing any sort of aggression are completely vulnerable," he added.

The COCOMI has further declared an indefinite public emergency and has appealed to the people to take shelters in safe areas and not to be out on the streets.

"Considering the kind of insecurity the people of the state are facing now, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity has declared an indefinite public emergency in the state of Manipur, right from this moment itself. Therefore, we appeal to all the people in the area not to roam around in the streets. Only essential services will be exempt; other than that, we appeal to all the civilians to stay indoors and stay in safe bomb shelters and not come out until and unless the situation returns to normalcy," said the spokesperson.

Earlier, Manipur Police said that Kuki militants reportedly deployed long-range rockets among the civilian population in two locations, killing a 78-year-old man identified as RK Rabei, and injuring six others.