The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a leading Meitei organization in Manipur, has voiced serious concerns over the recent surge in violence in the state.
Call for Investigation
COCOMI called for a comprehensive investigation into the bomb blast that occurred on a bridge in Kangpokpi district on April 24. The organization urged the Manipur government to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The suspected Kuki militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) damaging a culvert bridge on national highway 102, which connects Imphal in Manipur with Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland. This blast halted the movement of heavy vehicles on the highway.
The blast occurred as Manipur prepares for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat reserved for scheduled tribes on April 26.
The explosion severely damaged a major portion of the culvert bridge between Supermeina and (Koubru) Laikha in Kangpokpi district. Nearby structures, including a church and houses, suffered damage to their glass windows and doors.
Around 300 goods-laden trucks bound for Imphal from Assam through Nagaland were stranded at the Manipur-Nagaland border due to the blast.
While government authorities attributed the blast to armed militants from the Kuki tribe, no group has claimed responsibility yet. A Kuki student’s body issued a statement condemning the attack. Tribal organizations convened an emergency meeting to address the situation and engage with stakeholders, village elders, and civil society organizations in response to the explosion.
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