Imphal: Thousands of people took to the streets of Imphal, the capital of India's northeastern state of Manipur, in a rally organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), calling for the termination of a ceasefire arrangement with Kuki armed groups and the rehabilitation of internally displaced people.
Participants from Meitei, Naga and Meitei Pangal communities, including representatives from the state's hill and valley areas, joined the demonstration, according to accounts circulated by local media and social media platforms.
Protesters carried banners reading "End India's Proxy War" and raised slogans questioning the central government's handling of the conflict. The phrase reflected allegations made by demonstrators and should not be understood as an established description of government policy.
The protesters demanded the withdrawal of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, a ceasefire framework involving the Indian government, the Manipur government and certain Kuki armed organisations.
The arrangement was introduced to suspend hostilities between participating armed groups and security forces while creating conditions for political dialogue. Critics argue that its continuation has failed to address security concerns, while supporters of negotiations view such arrangements as a means of preventing further violence.
The rally also called for the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of whom have been unable to return to their homes following the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.
The conflict began amid tensions between the predominantly valley based Meitei community and Kuki Zo communities concentrated in the hill districts. Disputes over political representation, land rights, identity and the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status contributed to the deterioration in relations.
The violence resulted in deaths, destruction of homes and the displacement of tens of thousands of residents, with communities becoming increasingly separated along ethnic lines.
COCOMI, a civil society coalition associated with the Meitei community, has repeatedly criticised the authorities' handling of security and displacement issues and opposed arrangements it believes undermine Manipur's territorial integrity.
Kuki Zo organisations, meanwhile, have raised concerns about the security of their communities and sought political arrangements that would provide greater protection and autonomy. Their demands and interpretation of the conflict differ from those advanced by COCOMI.
The demonstration reflects continuing disagreements over how peace should be restored, particularly whether existing ceasefire arrangements should remain in place and what security guarantees are required before displaced families can return.
The Indian central government has faced calls from different communities to restore security, facilitate rehabilitation and pursue a political settlement.
No immediate response from the central government to the latest rally was established in the information available.
