Thousands of people from multiple indigenous communities — including Meiteis, Nagas, and Meitei Pangals — marched across Manipur on Saturday, 31 October, demanding the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, the resignation of the state government, and an end to the prolonged ethnic violence gripping the state. The demonstration, one of the largest cross-community mobilisations since the conflict escalated, signals a significant shift in the political landscape of the northeast.

Scale and Organisation of the Rally

The protest was organised in Imphal by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in collaboration with several Naga civil society bodies. Demonstrators gathered at Tiddim Ground in Kwakeithel, Imphal West district, before marching to THAU Ground, where a public meeting was convened. Placards reading 'Abrogate SoO', 'We Want Peace, Not Proxy War', and 'Save Manipur' were prominently displayed throughout the march.

Participating Naga organisations included the Joint Tribe Council Manipur, Naga Humanitarian Aids Committee Manipur, Foothill Naga Co-ordination Committee, Naga Peoples' Union, and Inpui Naga Union. The United Naga Council (UNC) and the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) extended support by holding simultaneous sit-in demonstrations at various Naga district headquarters. A separate rally was also held in Chandel district, where Naga civil society groups specifically demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen.

Key Demands Raised

Beyond the abrogation of the SoO agreement, demonstrators called for the withdrawal of Assam Rifles, protection of indigenous communities and their properties, early resettlement of ethnically displaced Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the base year before the next Census.

What Speakers Said

COCOMI convenor Y.K. Dhiren demanded the resignation of the present government, alleging it had 'failed to protect the lives and properties of indigenous people and restore normalcy in the state.' He further alleged that Kuki militant groups operating under the SoO arrangement were being used to pursue a larger political agenda.

Former COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said indigenous communities had 'suffered for more than three years' and that repeated appeals to both the state and Central governments for termination of the SoO agreement had gone unaddressed. He described the joint mobilisation of Meitei and Naga organisations as a significant expression of collective concern over the prevailing crisis.

Background: The SoO Agreement and Its Collapse

The SoO agreement has been in force since August 2008, covering a total of 23 underground outfits — 8 under the United People's Front (UPF) and 15 under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO). Under the arrangement, 2,266 Kuki cadres have been residing in designated camps across Manipur, with ground rules requiring them to refrain from violence and maintain weapons under prescribed security arrangements.

The agreement, however, expired on 4 September without renewal, and its legitimacy has been under sustained challenge since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. Recent security concerns have deepened the crisis: authorities reportedly discovered a significant discrepancy between the registered strength and actual presence of cadres at one designated camp, raising serious questions over compliance.

The rally also comes in the immediate aftermath of an ambush on a group of 14 Meitei men in which three were killed, an incident that triggered widespread protests and intensified demands for security and accountability from both state and Central authorities.

What Comes Next

With the SoO agreement already lapsed and cross-community pressure mounting, the Central and state governments face renewed urgency to articulate a clear political roadmap for Manipur. The convergence of Meitei and Naga voices — historically not always aligned — adds considerable weight to the demands and is likely to increase pressure on New Delhi to revisit its engagement with all armed groups in the region.