‘March to save Manipur’: Mass protest in Imphal demands abrogation of SoO, action against cross-border terror

The people of Manipur on January 31 unanimously urged the Government of India to immediately abrogate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and take serious measures to stop alleged cross-border terror activities in the state, which protesters claimed are being carried out by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist networks.

Massive protests were staged in Imphal under the banner “Manipur Kanba Khongchat” (March to Save Manipur). The march, organised under the aegis of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, began from Tiddim Ground and culminated at THAU Ground, where a large public meeting was held.

Thousands of people from different communities, including a large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), voluntarily participated in the march. Protesters raised slogans such as “Don’t disintegrate Manipur,” “Long Live Manipur,” “Bring lasting peace,” “Resettle internally displaced persons,” and “Stop proxy war,” reflecting widespread public anger and anxiety over the prolonged crisis.

At the conclusion of the public meeting, representatives from various communities adopted a series of resolutions highlighting key demands. One of the primary resolutions called upon the Government of India to immediately abrogate the SoO agreement signed with Kuki militant groups, alleging that militants are operating freely under the cover of the agreement and engaging in unlawful activities. The resolution demanded strict and decisive action against such groups.

The resolutions further alleged that the ongoing crisis in Manipur is being projected merely as an ethnic clash, a narrative the protesters claimed undermines the rights and realities of the people. The gathering demanded that such portrayals be stopped immediately.

A specific resolution also urged the Centre to formulate a clear, time-bound policy for the resettlement of internally displaced persons, stressing that thousands continue to live in uncertainty without a roadmap for rehabilitation.

The meeting strongly condemned alleged cross-border terror activities linked to Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups, demanding that their trans-border networks and illegal infrastructure be dismantled without delay. Protesters also called for the implementation of NRC or similar mechanisms to check illegal immigration and demanded the assurance of free and safe movement along national highways in Manipur.

Reiterating their commitment to the unity of the state, the resolutions asserted that the territorial and administrative integrity of Manipur must be safeguarded, and that the democratic rights and mandate of the people of Manipur must be respected and upheld by the Government of India.

The protest marked one of the largest public mobilisations in recent months, underlining growing public pressure on the Centre to take decisive political and security measures to restore peace and stability in the state.