GoI's 'plan' to cede Manipur's land to Myanmar COCOMI demands answers from New Delhi, State Govt

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 27: A report published in The Diplomat about the possibility of the Government of India ceding Manipur's land to resolve a boundary dispute with Myan-mar has stirred up the hornet's nest with COCOMI coming out strongly and demanding official explanations from the Centre and the Manipur Government.
In a statement today, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) said if the report published in The Diplomat on July 17 is true, then COCOMI will not remain a mute spectator. "The Government of India shouldn't play with fire."
Manipur shares a 398 Km border with Myanmar. Marred with disputes, the porous border has been at the centre of many issues, including influx of illegal immigrants and cross border movement of insurgents, facing the State.
Significantly, the article written by Rajeev Bhattacharyya, a senior journalist based in Assam, cited "an official document seen by The Diplomat" and claimed that the Government of India may consider a proposal to exchange 1.4 square miles of land with Myanmar to complete the demarcation of the boundary between border pillars 65 and 68.
The "proposal being examined" by the Government of India was forwarded by the Foreign Secretary, said the report.
"The territory that is being considered for exchange lies in Manipur’s Chandel district, contiguous to Myanmar’s Kabaw Valley in Sagaing Region. The document, dated May 26, 2026, further mentions that the boundary demarcation is planned to be completed within three months," said The Diplomat report.
The controversial part of the boundary in Manipur lies between border pillars 64 and 68 at Molcham, border pillars 75 and 79 at Moreh, and border pillars 88 and 95 at Choro Khunou.
Despite the formation of Cabinet Sub-Committees by the Government of Manipur in 2000 and later, the boundary dispute has remained unresolved.
Citing a Government official, the report further mentions that the border issue came up for discussion during Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to India from May 30 to June 3, 2026.
The possibility of the erection of “auxiliary pillars” and some new pillars at Molcham in Chandel district between border pillars 65 and 68 was discussed by the two Governments. A 2017 proposal by the Ministry of External Affairs on the alignment of the border at Molcham was also being considered, said the report.
The rationale to expedite demarcation of the border stems from the Government of India's urgency to fence the border with Myanmar to check cross-border criminal activities, including illegal immigration and movement of insurgents. "A sum of $3.22 billion has already been sanctioned for the fence and a patrol track along the entire border, spanning 1,643 km," said the report.
Expressing strong concern and cautioning the Government of India and the Manipur Government, the COCOMI meanwhile hinted that any move to cede Manipur's land would invite unprecedented public resistance.
Manipur's territorial boundary was guarded and protected for ages by "our forefathers", but after merging with India, the State has lost lands, COCOMI said.
While the land that Manipur may cede was mentioned clearly in the report, the land India would gain from Myanmar in case of an exchange is not mentioned, COCOMI said.
The Government of India, in the past, has witnessed massive public movements and agitations of unprecedented nature and scale whenever Manipur's territorial integrity was threatened. It must not test the patience of the people again and further play with fire, COCOMI said.
"Manipur must not lose an inch of land. The  Government of Manipur and the Government of India must explain and clarify their positions on the boundary issue before the public," COCOMI said.