The Daily PulseGeneral
Hundreds Rally in Manipur's Ukhrul to Demand End to Ethnic Violence and SoO Pact Abrogation
Reported by Faizan Khan (Staff Writer) · The Hindu - National ·
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsHundreds of people marched through the Ukhrul district headquarters in Manipur on Thursday to demand an immediate end to ongoing ethnic violence and the cancellation of the Suspension of Operations pact with militant groups.
Key Demands
Demonstrators, including many women and elderly residents, carried placards calling for the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, who belongs to the Kuki community. Protestors also demanded that Kuki militant outfits be declared terrorists, the Assam Rifles be removed from Naga-dominated areas, and the state's political crisis be resolved while stopping what they termed a proxy war.
Organisers and Background
The protest march, known as the People's Rally, was put together by the Tangkhul Naga Long and other Tangkhul frontal groups under the United Naga Council. A matching protest also took place in the nearby Kamjong district. The Suspension of Operations is a three-way agreement signed by the Central government, the Manipur government, and multiple Kuki and Zomi militant groups.
Context
Manipur has experienced severe ethnic tensions and violence involving different communities across its hill and valley regions in recent months. Public protests and rallies are frequently organised by civil society groups in the state to press authorities for political solutions and security changes.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Hundreds of residents took to the streets in Manipur's Ukhrul and Kamjong districts to protest against ongoing ethnic strife, demanding the cancellation of a ceasefire pact with militant groups and the removal of a top state official.
Why It Matters
The protests highlight deep-rooted ethnic divisions and growing public anger in Manipur, where multiple communities are locked in complex political and social conflicts. Demands to scrap the Suspension of Operations agreement and remove security forces point to a severe lack of trust between local groups, state authorities, and armed factions.
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how the state and central governments will respond to the mounting public pressure from Naga civil bodies to alter security arrangements and review militant pacts in the region.
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