Thousands Protest Across Manipur Demanding Government Resignation and End to Ethnic Conflict
Thousands of demonstrators gathered across five valley districts in Manipur on Friday evening, staging a sound protest against continued killings and the protracted ethnic crisis in the state, according to reporting by NDTV. The demonstration took place from 7.30 pm to 8 pm, during which residents across Imphal and valley settlements beat drums, struck utensils, hit utility poles, and sounded vehicle horns to voice deep public frustration over ongoing instability. Organised in response to an appeal from the Federation of Haomee civil society organisation, the collective action sought to turn coordinated noise into a unified public message pressing authorities for decisive intervention. In Imphal, crowds attempted to march toward the Kangla complex near Lok Bhavan and the Chief Minister Secretariat, though security personnel blocked access points at Palace Compound, Moirangkhom, and Keisampat junctions.
Valley Demonstrations and Coordinated Sound Protests
On Saturday, massive rallies swept through Imphal, Senapati, and Chandel, with indigenous organisations issuing what they framed as a final call to the central government. Jointly coordinated by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) alongside Naga bodies, the procession in Imphal saw participation from Meitei community members and representatives of 21 to 22 Naga tribes. The main march originated at Tiddim Ground and moved through central thoroughfares toward Thau Ground for a large gathering. The mobilization followed an incident days earlier where armed militants ambushed 14 Meitei men and killed three individuals, triggering widespread anger across the state.
In Chandel district, 11 tribal groups participated in the mass rally organised by the Chandel Naga People's Organisation in solidarity with demands raised by the United Naga Council and COCOMI, according to Ukhrul Times.
Inter-Community Rallies and Grievances in Hill Districts
Addressing the assembly at Thau Ground, former COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba stated that indigenous populations had endured three-and-a-half years of violence, displacement, and economic ruin. Warning that continued inaction would force civil groups into broader resistance, Athouba asserted that public patience had reached its limit. Athouba presented core demands including the termination of the Suspension of Operations agreement with armed Kuki groups, the withdrawal of the Assam Rifles, a definite schedule for resettling displaced families in their native homes, and the execution of the National Register of Citizens using 1951 as the base year.
The United Naga Council submitted a memorandum seeking the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations pact, withdrawal of Assam Rifles from conflict zones, and time-bound implementation of the September 26 Guwahati agreement, according to Ukhrul Times.
The formal Suspension of Operations agreement between the government and armed Kuki groups expired on September 24, 2026, according to Ukhrul Times.
Civil Society Resolutions and Core Demands
Ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023 have claimed at least 306 lives, while separate clashes between Kuki and Naga factions have killed around 50 people since February. Participating organisations adopted six formal resolutions demanding state government accountability, the dismissal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, and the establishment of neutral border management systems. In addition, demonstrators marching through Imphal streets raised slogans calling for the protection of indigenous communities, reiterating that thousands of internally displaced persons must be safely rehabilitated.