New Delhi:

The protests were led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a civil society coalition, with hundreds of people forming a human chain on Tiddim Road. They were opposing the removal of the state’s name from a government bus. The protest spanned roughly 5.5 km, from the airport’s departure gate to Keishampat Junction, with a significant number of students among the participants.

The protests are a part of a larger statewide agitation led by COCOMI, which has sought a public apology from Governor Bhalla and the immediate resignation or transfer of Chief Secretary PK Singh, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who arrived from New Delhi on Monday, was airlifted by Army helicopter from Imphal International Airport to Raj Bhavan to avoid large-scale protests along the Tiddim Road from the airport to Keishampat Junction.

‘Apologise to Manipur or leave Manipur’

On May 21, Governor Bhalla left for New Delhi and returned to Imphal on Monday. Protesters took to the roads after they heard of his return, with banners reading: “Governor must tender apology to the people of Manipur – COCOMI” and “Apologise to Manipur or leave Manipur”.

On Monday, a seven-member team from COCOMI left for New Delhi ahead of a scheduled meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday. They are reportedly expected to discuss political and security issues due to the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

The agitation was launched after an incident on May 20, when a Manipur State Transport bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul was stopped by central security personnel. They reportedly wanted the word ‘Manipur’ removed from the bus signage. The move was widely denounced as an attack on the state’s identity and autonomy.

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