Midnight protest in Manipur's Kangpokpi sees demonstrators demand end to alleged selective security operations

Hundreds of members of the Kuki community, predominantly women, staged a midnight protest in Kangpokpi district on Sunday, demanding what they described as impartial security operations and equal justice in cases of violence that remain unresolved.

Despite inclement weather, protestors gathered outside the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Kangpokpi late at night and raised slogans against what they alleged to be selective enforcement measures targeting members of the Kuki community.

The demonstration later moved along National Highway-2 towards the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) Office, where participants continued their protest and reiterated demands for fair and uniform application of the law across all communities.

At the DC Office, speakers addressed the gathering and questioned the continuation of security operations while several high-profile cases of violence remain unresolved.

One of the women protestors stated that the demonstration was intended to seek accountability and equal treatment under the law rather than oppose security measures or lawful governance.

The protestors highlighted several unresolved incidents and sought clarity on the status of investigations, including the killing of three church leaders, the deaths of fourteen Kuki civilians, the killing of six Naga individuals, and the case involving David Thiek and reported mutilation of victims.

Participants maintained that all victims of violence deserve equal access to justice irrespective of community identity and called for investigations to be conducted in an impartial and transparent manner.

The demonstrators urged the Government of India, the Manipur administration and security agencies to ensure that all investigations are pursued without bias and that those responsible for acts of violence are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The protest concluded peacefully after midnight, with organisers stating that further democratic forms of agitation may continue until their concerns regarding fairness, accountability and equal application of the law are addressed.