Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has warned the Government of India against any move to transfer Manipur’s territory to Myanmar, saying such a decision would trigger widespread public protests across the state.
The warning comes in response to reports suggesting that New Delhi is considering ceding a portion of land to settle a long-pending India-Myanmar boundary dispute.
In a statement issued by Phijam Shyamchand, convener of COCOMI’s IPR Sub-Committee, the organisation referred to a July 17 report published in The Diplomat, which claimed that the Centre was considering transferring around 1.4 square miles of land in Manipur’s Chandel district, between Border Pillars 65 and 68, to Myanmar.
COCOMI also raised concerns over a document issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on May 26, which outlines a three-month timeline for border demarcation but does not mention any reciprocal territorial adjustment in India’s favour.
Describing Manipur’s territorial integrity as a “red line”, the organisation asserted that any attempt to reduce the state’s historical boundaries would be unacceptable and would be met with strong public resistance.
The committee further stated that several stretches along the India-Myanmar border remain disputed, particularly between Border Pillars 64 and 68 at Molcham, 75 and 79 at Moreh, and 88 and 95 at Choro Khunou.
Questioning the ongoing India-Myanmar border negotiations, COCOMI asked whether diplomatic discussions and the installation of auxiliary border pillars in the Molcham sector were being pursued at the cost of Manipur’s territorial interests.