The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has demanded the state government to release all five as soon as possible or face public agitation.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Jeetendra Ningombam (coordinator of COCOMI) said that amid the ongoing tension in the state.

The Manipur police arrested five village defenders on September 16. They were returning from protecting peripheral areas and it is very unfortunate that the state police allegedly arrested them with sophisticated weapons, he said.

Stating that firings from the Chin-Kuki narco terrorists are still continuing from the hill sides, Jeetendra said the state government should stop arresting village defenders.

Jeetendra also stated that the government is taking action only against the valley and demanded that it should stop and that the five arrested should be released without any condition as soon as possible.