Members of Awang Sekmai Kanba Nupi Lup, Imagi Meira and progressive alliance of folk manipur Stadur protesting protest requiring free movement along the national highways in Sekmai bazaar in Imphal 5. September 2025. Photo Credit: Neither
The Cocomi Integrity Coordinating Committee, one of the largest groups of the Civil Society of Meitei in Manipur, refused to sign surgery (SOO) concerning with non-use groups KUKI-ZO and declared that the decision “reflects” reflects non-democratic and hegemonic establishment “.
Cocomi, who spoke to the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) to find a travel map in manipuro, said that the extension of the SOO agreement despite the “series of terrorist and crimes” committed by these groups was a decision that completely encountered the interests of the indigenous population manipur.
The Government of MHA and Manipur signed on Thursday (September 4, 2025) “Reconstruction of Terms and Conditions or Basic Rules”. Development comes before the expected visit to manipuro in Manipuro 13. September 2025 Prime Minister Narendry Modi, his first visit from ethnic violence among Kuki-Zo and Meitei people broke out in the state of May 3, 2023.
The Kuki-Zo (KZC) Council, a conglomerate of civil society organizations, agreed to open the National Motorway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) passing through the Kangpokpi district “for free movement of commuting and basic goods,” Mha said.
Cocomi said that the popularly elected government manipure, through the decision of the Cabinet on March 10, 2023, unanimously decided to cancel the SOO agreement.
“According to the rule of the current president, the administration is managed by the authority named from the new Delhi, which lacks legitimacy to represent the inhabitants of manipure in a letter and in spirit. The decision to expand SOO under such circumstances is illegitimate,” Cocomi said on Friday (September 5, 2025).
He stated that by expanding the legitimacy and recognition of armed groups within the misleading pact of the SOO, the government of India has raised serious doubts about its role and responsibility in dealing with narco-terrorism in the region.
“Goi deliberately ignored the unanimous solution of the Legislative Assembly of Manipur, which was given 29 February 2024 to cancel (canceled) SOO.
He added that the Indian Constitution guarantees a free movement to every citizen throughout the country as a fundamental law. However, the government of India by changing it into a bargaining chip with armed groups, however, undermined its own constitutional obligations.
Manipur was on February 13, 2025 subjected to the President’s government. Approximately 250 people were killed and more than 60,000 people were displaced from their homes because the ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki-ZA people broke out in the state of May 3, 2023.
Meanwhile, lawmakers Bharatiya Janata (BJP) from Imphal West Y. Khemchand Singh welcomed the reopening of the Imphal-Dimapur road, the National Highway-2. “This development represents a considerable milestone in the restoration of normal and is a remarkable development for all of us. … When we proceed forward, I refer to all fears and fellow citizens to postpone the past differences and work together to build progressive and inclusive manipures as before.
Published – September 2025 23:06
