"Clear Highway Blockade, Need Food, Medicines": Manipur Civil Society Group

Meitei civil society group COCOMI has said local youth are reluctant to surrender weapons as attacks by insurgents on civilians have intensified. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) is the umbrella body of valley-based civil society organisations.

In a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, COCOMI said, "We have witnessed the Meitei volunteers complying with the Home Minister's appeal with a sense of confidence and respect to the statement of the Home Minister. However, it is very unfortunate that the attacks and aggression from the Kuki militants/terrorist have been intensified again and there is no sign of any retreat from their side."

COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba said it is the fundamental duty of the government to operate the highways.

He said the highways, especially the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway, has been blocked by insurgents and their supporters for over 30 days.

"The authority concerned should take necessary safety measures to lift the blockade of the National Highway and ensure smooth transportation of all essentials including fuel, cooking gas, life-saving drugs, besides food grains permanently," he said.