Manipur's Ethnic Groups Demonstrate Against Violence, Issue Demands to Centre

Thousands of residents from multiple ethnic communities in Manipur took to the streets in a show of unified opposition to the violence and instability that has gripped the state for an extended period. The large-scale demonstrations reflected growing frustration among Meitei, Naga and other indigenous groups over the humanitarian toll of the ongoing crisis.

Protestors called on the central government to terminate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, which has governed the relationship between state authorities and various armed groups. The demonstrators also demanded the withdrawal of the Assam Rifles, the paramilitary force that has maintained a security presence across the region.

Additional demands put forward by the protestors included the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) using 1951 as the base year and the resettlement of internally displaced families to their original homes. These demands signal concerns about demographic change, security coordination and the plight of those uprooted by the conflict.

The demonstrations underscored the urgency with which civil society in Manipur views the resolution of the ongoing crisis and the necessity for comprehensive government intervention to address the humanitarian dimensions of the state's turbulent situation.