Correspondent
IMPHAL, MAY 24: Hundreds of youths took part in a “To Save Manipur from Kuki Narco Terrorists” bike rally carried out on the streets in Imphal on Sunday.
The rally organized by the Student Wing of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), commenced from Sekmai in Imphal West district and proceeded along NH-102 (Imphal-Dimapur section) and culminated at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex after passing through various places in Imphal West and Imphal East districts.
A large number of students, youths, and volunteers participated in the rally carried out under a tight security arrangement along the rally route even as a large number of security personnel were deployed along the routes where the rally proceeded, besides the state police keeping a close watch on the participants.
Leaders of the Student Wing of the COCOMI who spoke to the media said the rally was being organized with the objective of creating public awareness of the root causes of the violence crisis besieging the state for the last more than three years and also to demonstrate unity among the people.
COCOMI convener Yengkokpam Dhiren flagged off the bike rally in the presence of leaders of the apex body and other prominent civil society groups. While flagging off the rally, the convener said that the rally was organized to create awareness the on the need for unity among the indigenous people of Manipur to safeguard themselves from the growing threats from various angles, adding that the indigenous people of the state were under threats from the growing menace of narco-terrorism and militant activities.
“We (Indigenous people) need unity to fight against organised violence, illegal armed activities and the expanding drug network threatening the social fabric of Manipur,” he said.
Notably, the COCOMI has been carrying out campaigns across the valley districts with its firm stand for people’s collective response to addressing issues such as narco-terrorism, illegal immigration, and attempts to distort the historical and cultural fabric of the state.
Currently, the apex body of over 55 influential CSOs and nine branch committees has been organizing a series of public meetings under the theme of exposing the “proxy war,” demanding action against Kuki militants, and seeking answers from the government on seven questions raised by COCOMI.