Latest news with #COCOMI
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
COCOMI seeks safety zone for farmers
Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has called for the immediate declaration of a 'Farmer Safety Zone' with shoot-at-sight orders in vulnerable agrarian areas following the attack on a farmer on Thursday. Ningthoujam Biren Singh, a local farmer, was shot at near an SSB security post at Phubala in Manipur's Bishnupur district. The attack reportedly took place after an alleged breach through three layers of security, including BSF, JKLI and SSB personnel. COCOMI termed the act as "a targeted and deliberate attempt to terrorise farmers, disrupt agricultural activities, and destabilise peace in the valley region".
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- The Hindu
COCOMI demands 'farmer safety zone' in Imphal Valley periphery areas
Meitei body COCOMI on Saturday (June 21, 2025) demanded a 'farmer safety zone' in the periphery areas of Imphal Valley, two days after a farmer was injured in a gun attack in Bishnupur district. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) also demanded shoot-at-sight orders in the periphery areas of the valley to deal with any unauthorised armed intruder, especially those carrying assault rifles or deadly firearms. Also read | Manipur districts tense after day of violence Strongly condemning the gun attack, COCOMI, in a statement, said, "Ningthoujam Biren Singh was shot from point-blank range barely 30 meters away from the SSB security line. This act of terror occurred after an outrageous breach through three tiers of security — BSF, Army, and SSB — raising serious concerns about the intent, efficiency, and reliability of the current security deployment in the valley." "A COCOMI team held a meeting with the Bishnupur superintendent of police, followed by a strategic security dialogue at police headquarters with senior officers including ADGP L Kailun and IGP K Kabib," it said. COCOMI stands in full solidarity with local farmer groups and the victim's family and demands a declaration of a 'farmer safety zone' with shoot-at-sight orders, it said. "The entire agrarian belt along the foothills and canal zones must be officially designated as a 'farmer safety zone' and must be declared a 'no arms zone', and any unauthorised armed intruder, especially those carrying assault rifles or deadly weapons, must face immediate shoot-at-sight orders," COCOMI said. COCOMI also called for guarantee to "uninterrupted cultivation access" and to allow farmers to cultivate paddy fields of the Meiteis up to the foothill areas without fear or obstruction. It also demanded the deployment of two to three additional companies of security forces for regular mobile patrolling while maintaining all existing static posts to ensure round-the-clock surveillance of sensitive farming zones. The farmer was shot at on Thursday afternoon while he was working in the fields in Phubala in the valley district of Bishnupur after armed men allegedly opened fire from the surrounding hills, officials said. Farmers, who were working with him, claimed that the shots were fired from the nearby hills, they said. Located on the periphery of the Imphal Valley, the vast farmlands of Phubala are surrounded by the hills in the Churachandpur district on one side. Protesting the incident, locals called a shutdown in Phubala. The movement of security forces was blocked in some areas of the district, they said. Over 260 people have been killed after ethnic clashes broke out between the Meiteis, who live in the valley, and Kukis, who dominate the surrounding hills, in May 2023.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Manipur: COCOMI demands 'farmer safety zone' in Imphal Valley periphery areas
Imphal, Meitei body COCOMI on Saturday demanded a 'farmer safety zone' in the periphery areas of Imphal Valley, two days after a farmer was injured in a gun attack in Bishnupur district. Manipur: COCOMI demands 'farmer safety zone' in Imphal Valley periphery areas The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity also demanded shoot-at-sight orders in the periphery areas of the valley to deal with any unauthorised armed intruder, especially those carrying assault rifles or deadly firearms. Strongly condemning the gun attack, COCOMI, in a statement, said, "Ningthoujam Biren Singh was shot from point-blank range barely 30 meters away from the SSB security line. This act of terror occurred after an outrageous breach through three tiers of security BSF, Army, and SSB raising serious concerns about the intent, efficiency, and reliability of the current security deployment in the valley." "A COCOMI team held a meeting with the Bishnupur superintendent of police, followed by a strategic security dialogue at police headquarters with senior officers including ADGP L Kailun and IGP K Kabib," it said. COCOMI stands in full solidarity with local farmer groups and the victim's family and demands a declaration of a 'farmer safety zone' with shoot-at-sight orders, it said. "The entire agrarian belt along the foothills and canal zones must be officially designated as a 'farmer safety zone' and must be declared a 'no arms zone', and any unauthorised armed intruder, especially those carrying assault rifles or deadly weapons, must face immediate shoot-at-sight orders," COCOMI said. COCOMI also called for guarantee to "uninterrupted cultivation access" and to allow farmers to cultivate paddy fields of the Meiteis up to the foothill areas without fear or obstruction. It also demanded the deployment of two to three additional companies of security forces for regular mobile patrolling while maintaining all existing static posts to ensure round-the-clock surveillance of sensitive farming zones. The farmer was shot at on Thursday afternoon while he was working in the fields in Phubala in the valley district of Bishnupur after armed men allegedly opened fire from the surrounding hills, officials said. Farmers, who were working with him, claimed that the shots were fired from the nearby hills, they said. Located on the periphery of the Imphal Valley, the vast farmlands of Phubala are surrounded by the hills in the Churachandpur district on one side. Protesting the incident, locals called a shutdown in Phubala. The movement of security forces was blocked in some areas of the district, they said. Over 260 people have been killed after ethnic clashes broke out between the Meiteis, who live in the valley, and Kukis, who dominate the surrounding hills, in May 2023. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Manipur: Meitei civil body urges govt to act after attack on farmers
Imphal: The coordinating committee on Manipur integrity (COCOMI), an apex Meitei civil body, issued a statement on Friday urging the government to take necessary action to counter the growing violence during the ongoing cultivation season. This comes a day after a 60-year-old farmer, Ningthoujam Biren, sustained a bullet injury on his left arm after he was allegedly shot by Kuki militants while working in his paddy field at Phubala in Bishnupur district. 'We have been alerting the authorities for years. The current pattern of security deployment is clearly inadequate. Armed militants are targeting farmers in their fields, and this latest incident only reinforces our warnings,' COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said. A clash also broke out on Sunday morning in Imphal East after a Meitei farmer from Leitanpokpi allegedly arrived with a tractor to plough a paddy field in Sadu Lampak, near a Kuki village. No casualties were reported. With paddy cultivation underway, the COCOMI has demanded deployment of additional security personnel along the first line of hill terrain and foothill ranges bordering the valley's agricultural zones. 'This is the cultivation season. Our farmers have the right to access and cultivate their fields safely. Denying them this security is denying them a basic right,' Athouba added. Also Read:Clash breaks out between Meitei-Kuki communities in Imphal East over farmland Clarifying that people in the valley do not oppose Kuki farmers cultivating on nearby lands, Athouba said, 'But the security forces must act decisively against those carrying arms and threatening either of the community.' Athouba accused the government of only issuing statements but making little implementation on the ground. 'The public is losing patience. This must be the last time such an incident occurs. The government must respond with urgency and seriousness. If not, we could witness another wave of massive public protests,' Athouba said. COCOMI has urged the government to take strong measures to neutralise threats from armed groups on both sides, said Athouba.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Singson's remains to arrive today, kin opt to bypass Imphal
Guwahati/Kolkata: The family of Lamnunthem Singson, a 26-year-old Kuki flight attendant from the ill-fated Ahmedabad-London flight, have opted to transport her mortal remains to Kangpokpi district in Manipur on Thursday via Dimapur airport in Nagaland, avoiding Imphal due to the ongoing ethnic tension. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After the crash, it was revealed that Singson and her family had relocated from Imphal during the early phases of the 2023 conflict. They currently reside in a rented accommodation in Kangpokpi town. "We have received confirmation about a positive DNA match being found in the sample we had provided. Her remains have been identified," said Marina Singson, the cousin of the crash victim. Marina said her family hopes to give their daughter a traditional farewell in her home state. Kangpokpi deputy commissioner Mahesh Chaudhari said the state govt offered support from Imphal airport to Kangpokpi but they respect the family's decision to travel through Dimapur, acknowledging their emotional state during this difficult period. The aircraft carrying Singson's remains and family members is scheduled to land in Dimapur at 1 pm Thursday, reaching Kangpokpi town by 7.30pm. Chaudhari said security measures are in place for the journey. "I spoke to her mother a day back. She is having a hard time coping with the situation. She says she cannot imagine a life or a future without her only daughter," Marina said. She also expressed gratitude for the support and condolences that have poured in for the family. K Songreng from the Kangpokpi district unit of the Kuki Students' Organization (KSO), which is coordinating Singson's final journey, said travelling through Imphal is not viable at present. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Due to the Meitei-Kuki-Zo tension, the family must now traverse 250 km by road from Dimapur airport to Kangpokpi town via NH2, rather than the shorter 75 km route from Imphal airport. Despite assurances from COCOMI and the Manipur chief secretary regarding safe passage, the KSO representative deemed travel through Imphal unsuitable. Prayer services are planned along the Dimapur route. KSO officials have confirmed Friday's funeral arrangements at a Kangpokpi town public cemetery. Local Kuki women are organising a reception at the rented residence where Singson's relatives will bring the remains from Ahmedabad. "This is the biggest possible tragedy for the families to lose their young daughters in this manner. It is immoral and simply wrong to exploit this human tragedy for a vested interest by playing politics over the dead bodies," said Meitei Heritage Society in a media release. The organisation believes that politics is being played by some groups with vested interests over bringing Singson's body through Imphal airport. Meanwhile, Gitanjali Kongbrailatpam, whose 20-year-old Meitei sister Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma was also aboard in the same flight, is in Ahmedabad since June 13 waiting for DNA results. "We are eagerly waiting in the hotel, after they took my sample for DNA matching. They (hospital officials) told us to wait and keep patience," Gitanjali said. "DNA samples of 200-odd victims matched. Hopefully, DNAs of the rest, including my sister, will match today or tomorrow. It's been so long, we just need a confirmation call from the hospital," Gitanjali said. She expressed regret about limited communication with Nganthoi on the day of the incident. "She only sent me a text message sharing the flight timing. She did not talk much that day," she added.
