In a rare display of solidarity cutting across ethnic lines, members of the Naga and Meitei communities, joined by Meitei Pangals and representatives of other communities, staged a massive sit-in protest at the historic Khwairamband Ima Market today, demanding justice for victims of the ongoing ethnic conflict and accusing both the State and Central Governments of failing to protect indigenous communities and deliver accountability.
The protest, organised jointly by the Naga People’s Union Imphal, Imphal Naga Business Association, Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), Khwairamband Nupi Keithel, Imagi Meira, Committee on Coordinated Response and Rehabilitation (CCRR), FMCC and UZCC, drew a large turnout from both the valley and hill communities, underscoring growing calls for a united response to the prolonged crisis.
The protesters demanded that the Manipur Government immediately convene a Special or Monsoon Session of the State Legislative Assembly to hold an exhaustive discussion on the prevailing security situation, restoration of peace, the arrest of village volunteers, and the implementation of assurances reportedly given by the Governor when voluntarily surrendered arms were accepted earlier this year.
Among their key demands were the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki armed groups, an end to what they described as India’s “proxy war” in Manipur, justice for civilians killed during the conflict, and the release of Naga and Meitei village volunteers arrested in connection with the violence.
Addressing the gathering, moderator Julia Shinglai said justice must be delivered equally for Naga and Meitei civilians who have lost their lives since the outbreak of the conflict. She questioned what she described as the government’s selective response to incidents involving different communities, alleging that while senior leaders had personally intervened in cases involving Kuki victims, similar concern had not been shown towards the deaths of Naga and Meitei civilians. She urged the public to remember these issues while exercising their democratic rights in future elections.
Speaking to reporters, Imagi Meira convenor Sujata Thokchom alleged that indigenous Meitei and Naga communities had been targeted by Kuki armed groups during the conflict while the government had failed to ensure justice for the victims. Referring to the killing of six Naga civilians who were allegedly abducted and murdered over a month ago, she claimed that although one Kuki organisation had reportedly admitted involvement in the incident, those responsible had yet to be arrested or prosecuted.
She said individual communities had organised numerous protests over the past months, but the absence of any meaningful government response had compelled different indigenous communities to come together under a common platform.
Naga activist Ashang Kasar echoed similar concerns, alleging that the bodies of the six slain Naga civilians continue to remain at the mortuary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences nearly 40 days after the incident as their families await justice. He questioned the government’s silence over the case and urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible without further delay.
Also addressing the gathering, Khwairamband Keithel leader Kshetrimayum Shanti described the joint participation of Naga and Meitei organisations as an encouraging step towards rebuilding trust between communities fractured by the violence. She maintained that lasting peace would remain elusive unless the Suspension of Operations agreements with Kuki armed groups were revoked and justice was delivered to all victims, irrespective of their community.
She said repeated rallies, memorandums and public appeals had failed to evoke any meaningful response from either the State or Central Government and called upon both governments to fulfil their constitutional responsibility by taking concrete measures to restore peace and public confidence.
