Thousands rally in Imphal seeking protection for indigenous people, scrapping of SoO pact

Imphal: An umbrella body of Meitei groups held a massive rally in Manipur’s capital on Saturday, seeking protection for indigenous people and the scrapping of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with militant groups. The demands were endorsed by several Naga organisations.

Naga civil bodies held marches in Chandel and Senapati districts in support of the rally organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in Imphal. The Naga organisations also demanded the termination of the SoO agreement, accusing Kuki-Zo militant groups of involvement in violence.

The rallies came days after militants ambushed 14 Meitei men and killed three of them, triggering protests in the state, which has been plagued by ethnic violence since May 2023.

Thousands of people, including members of the Naga community, began their march from Tiddim Ground towards THAU Ground in Imphal West district as part of the rally organised by COCOMI. The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body, endorsed the rally.

Police put up barricades at Keisampat Junction, just a few hundred metres from Lok Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s Office and the BJP state office, and prevented the rally from proceeding further.

Participants held up posters and placards bearing slogans such as “save Manipur”, “we want peace and justice” and “abrogate SoO pact”.

“We seek the resignation of the present government for its failure to protect the lives and properties of the indigenous people of the state. This is a historic rally. People are raising their voice against policies and programmes which are against the indigenous people,” COCOMI convenor Y Dhiren said.

A protester said, “After three-and-a-half years of crisis in Manipur, Naga tribes, Meiteis and the native people are coming together to raise their voice against the government for their policies against the indigenous people of the state. We have endured enough pain, loss of lives and property.”

“We must fight illegal immigrants and narco-terrorism, and secure our future,” he added.

In Naga-majority Senapati district, a rally demanded the immediate abrogation of the SoO agreement and the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen. It was organised by the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) and Senapati District Women’s Association (SDWA) in support of the rally called by COCOMI in Imphal.

UNC president N G Lorho said Nagas across the hill districts had united to defend their ancestral land. “We are the owners and guardians of our land from times immemorial. We will not surrender our ancestral right,” he said.

A similar rally was held in Chandel district, demanding Kipgen’s resignation and the abrogation of the SoO agreement.

Manipur has been in the grip of an ethnic conflict between the valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities since May 2023. The violence has claimed at least 306 lives, while several people remain missing. Clashes between Kukis and Nagas in the state have also led to the deaths of around 50 people since February this year.

For the first time since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023, security forces have taken control of a camp meant to house Kuki-Zo militants under the nearly two-decade-old truce and plan to audit all 14 such camps across the state.

The rare takeover followed the discovery that only one of the 159 registered cadres was present at the camp, raising questions about compliance with the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, which expired on September 4 without being renewed.

The discrepancy has raised questions about compliance with a key condition of the SoO agreement, which requires militants covered by it to remain in designated camps and refrain from violence.

The agreement was formally signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki-Zo militant groups in August 2008. It was intended to suspend hostilities and create conditions for a negotiated political settlement while keeping armed cadres confined to designated camps.

Its origins date back to 2005, when the Indian Army reached an understanding with Kuki militant groups to suspend operations against each other. The pact covers Kuki-Zo militant groups under two umbrella organisations — the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF).

Under its ground rules, cadres are required to refrain from violence, remain in designated camps and keep their weapons under prescribed security arrangements.

The arrangement has been central to the Centre’s efforts to address the Kuki-Zo insurgency through negotiations. However, its continuation has become increasingly contentious since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.

In February 2024, the Manipur Assembly adopted a resolution seeking abrogation of the agreement. Naga organisations have also demanded its termination, accusing Kuki-Zo militant groups of involveme