Pointing pressure on BJP-led dispensation on eve of elections, a mass rally was jointly organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and several Naga organisations and other indigenous community bodies at Imphal on Saturday.
Organised under the banner of “Mass Uprising Against GoI’s Proxy War in Manipur”, the rally was held at Tiddim Ground and a procession proceeded towards Thau Ground, where a mass gathering was held.
Participating organisations included the United Naga Council (UNC), Joint Tribes Council (JTC), Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), Naga People’s Union, Imphal (NPUI), Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur (NHACM), Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and people from the hills and valley.
Thousands of Meitei, Naga and other indigenous people rallied across Imphal, Senapati and Chandel, issuing a "final call" to the Centre and demanding the scrapping of the SoO agreement with Kuki groups, withdrawal of Assam Rifles and implementation of NRC with 1951 as the base year.
The protesters also demanded withdrawal of the Assam Rifles from the state -- a move seems to be guided by certain malafide intentions.
Moreover, it is understood that various Meitei armed groups and also NSCN IM -- technically both the Naga groups - Hebron and the Eastern Flank - camps have been depending a lot on cross border illegal trade. There are reasons to believe as a local outfit - aware of various local dimensions and with "effective information network"; the Assam Rifles can "choke" all the leaking holes. Therefore, it is suggested that civil society A or B - and including UNC - must not tread into paths - which in normal circumstance do not fall under their jurisdiction.
"Deployment of force is administrative decision. As the legal mandate goes; Assam Rifles and other central forces work in tandem with the state police and with the mandatory nod from the civil and political leadership at the level of Chief Minister and Chief Secretary.
So, there is absolutely no need of one-upmanship," came a comment from someone in the know of things.
At the end of the rally, the participating organisations collectively adopted six resolutions.
They also alleged the Government of India’s proxy war and support to narco-terrorism in Manipur. The resolutions also demanded the non-extension of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki armed groups, whose agreement expired on September 24, 2026.
Other demands included
** the safe return, resettlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs),
*** removal of Assam Rifles and establishment of neutral and effective border management,
*** implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the foundational reference year, and immediate removal of deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen from the Cabinet.
The collective declaration stated that the people of Manipur, irrespective of community, ethnicity, region or geographical affiliation, remained committed to peace with justice, mutual respect, equal dignity and protection of the indigenous people.
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