The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a leading conglomerate of Meitei-based CSOs, on Thursday warned of mass protests to get the central forces deployed in the strife-hit state withdrawn if they do not act against Kuki-Zo militants “responsible” for the September 1 drone attacks in which a woman was killed and several injured in Imphal West district’s Koutruk village.

They have given central forces five days to act against those involved in the attack.

The COCOMI also said they will stage a human chain protest on Friday in the state over the handling of the ongoing strife by the government besides demanding the removal of the security adviser and the state DGP for their “failure” to contain the situation.

A COCOMI member said if central forces can’t protect them (Meiteis) why were they deployed in the state. There are about 60,000 central forces in the state, deployed in the wake of the ethnic conflict that erupted between the Kuki-Zos and the Meiteis on May 3, 2023, claiming at least 228 lives and displacing over 60,000 people.

The army in a statement on Thursday said it has “ramped up its search operations across the region to counter the surge of violent activities”. In coordination with Manipur police, the army also recovered “substantial” cache of arms in “sensitive areas” on the fringes of Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts, dealing a blow to “the miscreants threatening peace in the state”.

Recoveries included one heavy caliber launcher, one 12 bore double barrel rifle, one .177 Rifle with magazine, two pistols, one pompi gun, five grenades, ammunition and war like stores, the army said.

Leading Kuki-Zo bodies have contested the Manipur government’s claim over the Koutruk attack by suspected Kuki-Zo militants using drone bombs as “unfounded”.