IMPHAL, Jan 25: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has raised alarm following reports of a secret underground tunnel at the Myanmar-India border, allegedly used for smuggling drugs into Indian territories. The tunnel, according to reports, is capable of accommodating heavy vehicles, fueling concerns about the scale and sophistication of the operation.

In response to this alarming discovery, COCOMI has called on the Government of India to declare a “Narco-Terrorist Emergency” in the Northeastern region. The committee has demanded urgent, aggressive, and transparent actions to combat the escalating narco-terrorism activities that threaten regional stability. COCOMI warned of “serious consequences” if the government fails to take decisive action, stressing that continued neglect could turn Manipur into a flashpoint for broader regional instability.

COCOMI’s demands include:

• The formulation of a transparent, time-bound security and resolution policy by both the Central and state governments to address the crisis in Manipur comprehensively.
• A thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of influential individuals and entities in Manipur, Mizoram, and Myanmar’s Chin State in narco-terrorism activities.
• Immediate dismantling of the underground tunnel and other infrastructure that facilitates drug smuggling and illegal arms trafficking.
• An official acknowledgment by the Government of India and the state regarding the geopolitical and narco-terrorism aspects of the ongoing crisis in Manipur, accompanied by concrete actions to counter these threats.

In a press release, COCOMI emphasized that the existence of such a sophisticated tunnel poses a grave threat not only to national security but also to the indigenous populations of the Northeastern region. The committee pointed out that the indigenous people of Manipur have long suspected the involvement of both external and internal forces in facilitating such illegal activities, with the scale of the operation suggesting the participation of powerful actors, including influential entities in Mizoram and Myanmar’s Chin State.

COCOMI also expressed disappointment over the “longstanding apathy” displayed by successive Indian governments, which they believe has emboldened the perpetrators and compromised regional security. The committee stressed that failure to address the situation could damage India’s global reputation, stating, “The ongoing crisis in Manipur cannot be dismissed as a mere ethnic conflict, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other government officials like Kiren Rijiju have suggested in public forums. It is a complex issue, intertwined with narco-terrorism and broader geopolitical dynamics.”