In an unambiguous tone, COCOMI slammed the Indian Army for acting in a manner that “undermines the state’s own mechanisms of governance and security”, arguing that the current security posture hints at “undeclared military rule” in Manipur. The committee says that it is a deliberate challenge to the sovereignty of Manipur’s civil administration, and a turning point in the fight to restore dignity, order, and indigenous unity in the embattled state.
TFM Report
In a fiery press statement, COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) has condemned the Indian Army’s alleged attempt to delegitimize Manipur’s state authority, following a controversial incident on May 20, 2025, where security forces stopped a government-backed media team en route to cover the Shirui Lily Festival. The civil-military flashpoint has sparked public outrage and intensified calls for accountability and review of central forces’ role in the state.
It may be mentioned that a team of journalists en route to Ukhrul in an official “Manipur State Transport” vehicle to cover the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 was stopped at Gwaltabi checkpoint by the Maha Regiment, who ordered them to conceal the bus’s state markings.
Gwaltabi Incident: A Symbolic Blow to Media and State’s Dignity
On May 20, 2025, a team of journalists traveling in an official “Manipur State Transport” vehicle to Ukhrul to cover the Shirui Lily Festival 2025, was forcibly turned back at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East by security personnel from the Maha Regiment of the Indian Army. Shockingly, the personnel demanded that the words “Manipur State Transport” printed on the bus be covered up before the team could proceed.
COCOMI, in its official press release, condemned the order as an act that “delegitimizes the authority and very existence of the state of Manipur within its own territory.” The journalists, shocked and disturbed by the directive, chose to disembark and return to Imphal, refusing to comply with what they saw as a blatant affront to Manipur.
“Is Manipur Under Undeclared Military Rule?” – COCOMI Questions Chain of Command
In an unambiguous tone, COCOMI slammed the Indian Army for acting in a manner that “undermines the state’s own mechanisms of governance and security”, arguing that the current security posture hints at “undeclared military rule” in Manipur.
“It appears the chain of command now bypasses civil authority altogether,” the press release stated.
“The Governor… has now been openly defied by their own security apparatus.”
COCOMI warned that the Army, deployed ostensibly to secure peace, is now risking its own legitimacy by acting beyond civil control, particularly in areas like Gwaltabi, where the state’s directives were outright ignored.
Crisis of Trust and Cultural Disconnect
The incident has further eroded public trust in central forces, which COCOMI claims have already faced two years of suspicion due to their perceived partiality and controversial role in the ongoing ethnic and political crisis in Manipur.
“These actions do not contribute to restoring public confidence or maintaining peace,” it said.
COCOMI also criticized the deployment of non-local troops, citing a lack of cultural understanding and sensitivity, and called for the Government of India to reassess this policy.
Support for Journalists and a Call for Unity
COCOMI expressed full and unconditional solidarity with the Working Journalist Community, especially the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), which has already announced a pen-down strike and other protest measures.
“We stand by all collective actions and decisions taken in the face of this grave situation.”
Additionally, COCOMI reached out to Tangkhul community members, urging them to see the incident as part of a broader design to undermine the unity and trust among indigenous communities, and resist divisive agendas allegedly backed by immigrant armed groups protected under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement.
“This Is Not the Time for Silence” – COCOMI Warns of Escalation
In a powerful closing, COCOMI put the state and central leadership on notice:
“COCOMI will not tolerate inaction on the part of the Governor or any responsible state or central authority.”
“Manipur shall not be silenced.”
The message is clear: what happened at Gwaltabi was more than a checkpoint misstep—it was, in COCOMI’s view, a deliberate challenge to the sovereignty of Manipur’s civil administration, and a turning point in the fight to restore dignity, order, and indigenous unity in the embattled state.