The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Joint Tribe Council Manipur, Foothill Naga Co-ordination Committee, Naga Peoples’ Union, Imphal, Inpui Naga Union and Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur have jointly announced a mass rally on October 31, demanding an end to what they described as a “proxy war” allegedly being waged by the Government of India against the indigenous people of Manipur.
Announcing the rally, COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren cited the recent Sinai camp episode in Kangpokpi district, alleging that the incident had exposed serious failures in the implementation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) ground rules. He claimed that no SoO cadres were present at the camp when security forces reportedly found armed individuals belonging to groups outside the SoO framework, along with sophisticated weapons.
The organisations have demanded the abrogation of the SoO agreement and the removal of Assam Rifles from Manipur, alleging that the prevailing security arrangements have failed to protect the indigenous population.
Dhiren further alleged that armed cadres operating under the SoO framework had been used to target indigenous Meitei and Naga communities, accusing the Government of India of orchestrating the violence. He said the October 31 rally would send a strong message to the Centre to end what the organisations described as continuing brutality against the people of Manipur.
The convenor of the Joint Tribe Council Manipur, meanwhile, alleged that armed SoO cadres continued to move freely despite serious accusations of violence. He referred to reports of beheadings and alleged acts of mockery involving victims, questioning why no effective action had been taken against those responsible.
“If such acts had been committed by Meitei or Naga individuals, would the government have remained silent?” he asked, alleging that the differential response to violence had created a perception that SoO cadres enjoyed immunity from the law.
Describing the SoO agreement as a “licence to kill” indigenous Meitei and Naga people, he questioned how many armed individuals might still be moving outside designated camps while security agencies failed to ensure compliance with the agreement’s ground rules.
He also raised concerns over the alleged movement of around 150 SoO cadres from the Sinai camp, asking whether similar activities were taking place at other designated camps. He urged indigenous communities not to remain silent spectators and called for their participation in the October 31 rally.
The co-convenor of the Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur also appealed to all indigenous communities to support the mass rally, stressing the need for collective action against terrorism and violence.
The organisations said the coming together of Meitei and Naga groups reflected a united demand for security, accountability and protection of indigenous communities. They appealed to the people of Manipur to join the rally and raise a collective voice against armed violence and the alleged failure to enforce the SoO ground rules.
