COCOMI Urges Immediate National Action on Alleged Cross-Border Attacks Along Indo-Myanmar Border in Kamjong District

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has expressed grave concern over the recent armed attacks reported in the early hours of 7 May.

COCOMI stated that the attacks targeted Tangkhul Naga villages and civilian areas along the Manipur-Myanmar international border, particularly in Kamjong District, including Namlee, Wanglee, and adjoining areas.

In a release issued on Thursday, COCOMI stated that the situation has now assumed an extremely serious dimension following a public statement made by a sitting MLA from the affected border region, alleging that the attackers were cadres of the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army (KNA-B) and allied People’s Defence Forces (PDF) operating from across the international boundary.

"If these allegations are verified, the incident can no longer be casually dismissed as a mere 'communal clash' or 'ethnic conflict,'" COCOMI stated.

The release added that if verified, the allegations would amount to a serious case of cross-border armed aggression involving foreign-based armed groups attacking Indian citizens residing within Indian territory.

COCOMI strongly asserts that such a development directly concerns India’s national sovereignty, territorial integrity, border security, and internal security architecture.

COCOMI called upon the Government of India, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and all central security agencies deployed extensively across Manipur since May 2023 to urgently clarify the situation before the public.

The organization raised several questions regarding the actual status of border security, surveillance, and intelligence preparedness in these sensitive frontier zones, and how heavily armed cross-border elements were able to infiltrate and operate freely in the hill regions bordering Myanmar despite the continuous deployment of central armed forces and security agencies.

"Why have repeated warnings from local border communities regarding infiltration, armed movement, narco-terror activities, and foreign militant presence not been adequately addressed despite nearly two years of instability in Manipur?" asked COCOMI.

The body also questioned whether the Government of India would continue to officially describe such incidents merely as "ethnic violence," even when serious allegations now point toward foreign-origin armed actors breaching India’s international boundary.

COCOMI reiterated that the people residing in vulnerable border regions of Manipur deserve immediate protection, a transparent investigation, and a firm national response.

"Any external armed intrusion into Indian territory must be treated with utmost seriousness under the framework of national security and territorial sovereignty," the release stated.

The valley-based body further noted that continued failure to contain such incidents risks further destabilizing already fragile border communities and severely undermines public confidence in the State’s ability to protect its citizens and defend the nation’s territorial integrity.

COCOMI demands an immediate review and strengthening of security measures along vulnerable Indo-Myanmar border sectors, a transparent and impartial high-level inquiry into the recent attacks, and an investigation into the alleged involvement of cross-border militant groups and allied armed networks.

The organization also called for an examination of possible intelligence and operational failures and public clarification from the Government of India regarding the true nature of the incident and the security situation along the border.

COCOMI urged the Government of India to act with urgency, seriousness, and transparency before the situation escalates further, risking irreversible damage to peace and stability in the region.