Manipur violence: COCOMI demands NIA probe into Kangpokpi bomb blast

IMPHAL: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei organisation in Manipur, has expressed concern over escalating violence in the state in recent days.

COCOMI demanded a thorough investigation into the incident of bomb blast on Wednesday (April 24) on a bridge in Kangpokpi district of Manipur.

The organisation demanded the Manipur government to hand over the Kangpokpi bridge bomb blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

COCOMI stated that an investigation by the NIA into the case would ensure justice for the 3.5 million residents of Manipur affected by the violence.

It may be mentioned here that suspected Kuki militants reportedly exploded an improvised explosive device (IED) causing damages to a culvert bridge halting plying of heavy vehicles along the national highway 102 connecting, Imphal in Manipur and Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland.

The blast by the suspected militants came at a time when Manipur is getting ready for its second phase Lok Sabha election for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat reserved for scheduled tribes slated on April 26.

A major portion of a culvert bridge built over the hill slope drains at a location in between Supermeina and (Koubru) Laikha on the NH 102 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district was badly damaged when an IED kept along the bridge exploded in the early hours on Wednesday (April 24).

The impact of the blast was so much that glass windows and doors of a nearby church and houses were damaged.

Around 300 goods-laden trucks plying towards Imphal from Assam through Nagaland were left stranded on NH 102 to date at the Manipur-Nagaland border.

Though, in the prevailing situation of this strife state, the government authorities blamed the blast on the armed militants belonging to the Kuki tribals, no outfit has claimed responsibility so far.

Meanwhile, a Kuki students’ body issued a statement condemning the attack, while tribal organizations convened an emergency meeting to address the situation and engage with stakeholders, village elders, and civil society organizations in the aftermath of the explosion.