Daijiworld Media Network - Imphal
Imphal, Jan 31: Thousands of people hit the streets of Imphal on Saturday in a massive rally, asserting that Manipur’s territorial and administrative integrity must not be tampered with at any cost, while also demanding that the Centre reinstate an elected government in the state.
The march, organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) — an umbrella body of several Meitei civil society organisations — covered around 5 km, starting from Tiddim Ground and moving through Khwairamband Ima Keithel to the heart of the city.
The protest comes weeks ahead of the first anniversary of President’s Rule in Manipur. The state assembly was placed under “suspended animation” on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of then chief minister N Biren Singh.
Former COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said the turnout, which included displaced persons, reflected widespread public anger and dissatisfaction with the Centre’s handling of the crisis.
He claimed the rally was “a kind of response given by the people of Manipur that truly expressed their discontentment towards the policy of the Government of India in regard to this ongoing crisis in the state of Manipur.”
Athouba further alleged that people had begun to believe the crisis was not a “natural ethnic conflict,” and accused the government of displaying a “complicit attitude” by failing to respond effectively to repeated attacks in areas such as Ireng Naga village, Torbung, Saiton Nganukon, and the recent killing of Rishikant.
“The people of Manipur are now very anxious and very angry towards the policy, the initiatives and the attitude of the Government of India,” he said, adding that the rally aimed to send a strong message that the Centre must change its approach towards Manipur.
Following the march, protesters submitted an eight-point list of demands, including the withdrawal of the suspension of the agreement with Kuki militants and immediate action against those allegedly violating ground rules.
They also reiterated demands that the government respect Manipur’s territorial and administrative integrity, amid the Kuki community’s push for a separate administrative mechanism.
Ethnic clashes in Manipur first erupted on May 3, 2023, during protests against a court-ordered move to include the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list. The violence quickly spread, displacing tens of thousands who fled their homes, with many taking shelter in forests or moving to neighbouring states.
The conflict has claimed over 260 lives so far and displaced more than 60,000 people from both sides.