In a significant development aimed at rebuilding trust and promoting communal harmony in Manipur, a 17-member delegation from Thadou Inpi, the apex body representing the Thadou community, arrived in Imphal and held discussions with various prominent civil society organisations (CSOs) and student bodies. The historic meeting took place at Classic Hotel, Imphal, and marks the first official visit by a Thadou Inpi delegation to the state capital since the outbreak of the ethnic unrest in 2023.
The visit is seen as a critical step toward bridging the divide that has plagued the state over the past two years. The delegation’s presence in Imphal signals a growing willingness among communities to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at ending the protracted conflict that has disrupted lives and fractured social unity across the region.
Participating in the ongoing discussions were representatives from key CSOs, including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), and Arambai Tenggol, as well as several women’s groups actively working at the grassroots level.
Joining the dialogue were leading student organisations such as the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK), and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), all of whom have been vocal about the need for peace, youth participation, and communal understanding.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, the discussions focused on strategies to restore peace, rebuild inter-community relationships, and address the mistrust that has grown during the conflict. All participating organisations reportedly expressed their shared commitment to fostering a peaceful, inclusive future for all communities in Manipur.
The dialogue is being widely welcomed by observers and community leaders as a rare but encouraging development amid ongoing tensions and uncertainties. While details of the resolutions, if any, remain confidential for now, the meeting itself is being seen as a symbolic gesture of reconciliation and mutual respect.
This renewed engagement between Thadou Inpi and valley-based organisations is expected to lay the groundwork for future peacebuilding efforts, with hopes that such interactions will continue and expand to include more stakeholders from both the hill and valley regions.
Observers say that this meeting could open a new chapter in the conflict resolution process, led not only by political figures but by the collective will of the people through their civil and student bodies.