COCOMI locks Govt offices

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 27: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) locked several Government offices including the New Secretariat in Babupara today.
This came after it raised calls to boycott Union Home Minister Amit Shah and shut Government offices for 2-days, decrying the Government's failure to crackdown on Kuki militants following the killing of six hostages including women and children in Jiribam recently.
Yurembam Rani Devi (68), Telem Khoibi Devi (31), Laishram Heitombi Devi (25), Telem Thajamanbi Devi (8), Laishram Chingkhei Nganba Singh (2) and Laishram Lamnganba Singh (8 months) were abducted by the Kuki militants on November 11 and brutally killed later.
COCOMI had then given the Centre and the State Government 7 days to declare Kuki militants as unlawful organisations, carry out military crackdown against them, and lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which was reimposed in areas under six police stations in the valley.
COCOMI members and volunteers locked the New Secretariat in Babupara, the Transport Department office, the office of the Directorate of Relief and Disaster Management, office of the Forest Department at Sanjenthong, the office of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change at Porompat etc.
Police teams led by DIG N Herojit, Imphal West SP Ksh Shivakanta arrived to thwart the protest demonstration and provide security to the Government offices.
However, COCOMI volunteers were able to proceed with their stir and shut and lock several offices of the Government.
Police blocked the entry to the Old Secretariat building and prevented COCOMI volunteers from locking the office.
The volunteers then sat in front of the gate in protest and demanded that the staff inside must vacate the building.