Naga, Meitei groups hold joint protest in Imphal, demand justice for conflict victims

Members of the Naga and Meitei communities, along with representatives of other communities, staged a massive sit-in protest at Khwairamband Ima Market in Imphal on July 7, demanding justice for indigenous people killed during the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur and alleging government inaction.

The protest was jointly organised by the Naga People Union Imphal, Imphal Naga Business Association, Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), Khwairamband Nupi Keithel, Ima Gi Meira and the Committee on Coordinated Response and Rehabilitation (CCRR).

The demonstration drew participation from members of the Naga, Meitei, Meitei Pangal and other non-Manipuri communities residing in the state.

The protesters demanded that the government convene a special or monsoon session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly to hold a detailed discussion on restoring peace in the state. They also called for the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki armed groups, an end to what they described as India's "proxy war", and the release of volunteers from both the Meitei and Naga communities who have been arrested in connection with the conflict.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the protest, Ima Gi Meira convenor Sujata Thokchom alleged that Kuki armed groups had targeted indigenous Meitei and Naga people during the conflict, while accusing the government of failing to ensure justice for the victims.

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She referred to the killing of six Naga civilians who were allegedly abducted and murdered over a month ago, claiming that despite one Kuki group allegedly admitting involvement in the incident, those responsible have not been arrested or punished.

Thokchom said that although individual communities had organised protests in the past, they had yielded little response, prompting the decision to hold a united demonstration involving multiple communities.

Naga activist Ashang Kasar also criticised the government over the lack of action in the case, alleging that the bodies of the six Naga civilians remain at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences mortuary nearly 40 days after the killings as families continue to await justice.

Questioning the government's response, Kasar alleged that its continued silence had raised concerns among the public over its handling of the case and urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible.

There was no immediate response from the state government to the allegations made during the protest.