COCOMI demands farmer safety, shoot orders

Imphal

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has demanded the creation of a ‘farmer safety zone’ along the periphery of the Imphal Valley, following a recent gun attack on a farmer in Bishnupur district. The body also called for shoot-at-sight orders against any unauthorized armed intruders, especially those carrying deadly weapons.

The incident occurred on Thursday in Phubala, where a farmer named Ningthoujam Biren Singh was shot at point-blank range, just 30 meters from the SSB security line. COCOMI condemned the attack, terming it a serious security lapse, as the assailants allegedly breached three tiers of security — the BSF, Army, and SSB. The attack has raised alarm over the vulnerability of farmers working near sensitive hill zones.

In response, COCOMI met with the Bishnupur Superintendent of Police and later held a high-level security dialogue with senior officers, including ADGP L. Kailun and IGP K. Kabib. The organisation expressed solidarity with the local farming community and demanded uninterrupted access for farmers to cultivate their lands up to the foothills without fear or interference.

COCOMI proposed officially designating the foothill and canal regions as ‘no arms zones’ and stationing two to three additional companies of security forces for regular patrolling. It also insisted that existing static posts remain operational for round-the-clock surveillance. Locals in Phubala observed a shutdown in protest, blocking the movement of security forces in some areas. The incident adds to tensions in Manipur, where over 260 people have died in ethnic clashes since May 2023.