The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), a coalition of Meitei civil society organisations, has declared a public boycott of Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for not issuing an apology after a controversy involving the removal of the word “Manipur” from a state transport bus.
The incident occurred on May 20, when a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily Festival was allegedly stopped by security personnel at Gwaltabi in Imphal East. Soldiers from the Mahar Regiment reportedly instructed officials to hide or remove the word “Manipur” from the vehicle, triggering widespread anger among the local population.
In response, Cocomi launched a 48-hour general strike, which severely disrupted life across the Imphal Valley. With no apology offered by the authorities following the protest, the group has now announced a wider statewide agitation starting Sunday, including mass rallies, sit-in demonstrations, torchlight marches, and a civil disobedience movement aimed at rejecting President’s Rule in the state.
Speaking to the media, Cocomi spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba stated:
“The governor of Manipur will be boycotted from all public, civil, and cultural functions. No institution or individual shall invite or associate with him until he offers a formal public apology.”
Cocomi has also demanded the resignation of the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), and the state’s Security Adviser, accusing them of undermining public sentiment and enabling what the group describes as a “serious affront to Manipur’s identity.”
Emphasising that the protest is not anti-peace, Cocomi said, “This is a protest not against peace, but against surrendering governance to narco-terror threats and efforts to erase our identity under President’s Rule.”
Although Governor Bhalla recently appointed a two-member inquiry panel to investigate the matter, Cocomi has rejected it as inadequate and demands an independent judicial probe led by a retired judge.
The incident has intensified existing anxieties within the Meitei community about Manipur’s territorial integrity, particularly in the context of ongoing demands from the Kuki-Zo community for a separate Union Territory, a call that emerged following the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023.
With tensions mounting, Manipur remains gripped by deepening identity politics and demands for justice, placing the state’s future governance and unity at a critical juncture.
