Manipur: Naga, Meitei Women Hold Joint Protest in Imphal, Demand Justice for Six Killed Civilians
Hundreds of women from the Naga and Meitei communities staged a joint sit-in protest at Khwairamband Ima Keithel in Imphal on Tuesday, demanding justice for the alleged killing of six Naga civilians and calling for urgent measures to restore peace in violence-hit Manipur.
The protest, held amid heavy security deployment, also urged the Manipur government to convene a special Monsoon Session of the State Assembly to facilitate a comprehensive discussion on the state’s prevailing law and order situation and the path towards lasting peace.
The demonstration was jointly organised by the Naga People’s Union Imphal, Imphal Naga Business Association, Kwairamband Nupi Keithel, Ima Gi Meira, Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), and the United Zeliangrongpui Coordination Committee (UZCC).
Protesters carried placards with slogans including “Stop proxy war,” “Go back Central Forces,” “Terrorists, stop killing innocents,” and “Justice for six brutally murdered Liangmai Nagas.” Many commercial establishments across Imphal city remained closed in support of the protest.
Speaking to reporters, FNCC president Ng Akhiu said the demonstration sought swift legal action against those responsible for the killing and alleged mutilation of the six Naga civilians. He said the protest reflected a shared demand from both the Naga and Meitei communities for justice, accountability, and peace.
The protesters also called for justice in incidents reported from Tupul and TM Kasom, the release of village volunteers arrested by police, and a thorough investigation into the disappearance of more than 30 Meitei persons.
Among their political demands were the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, the designation of the Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P) as a terrorist organisation, and the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen on moral grounds over allegations linking her husband to the KNF-P.
Akhiu stated that lasting peace in Manipur would not be possible without justice for all victims, describing the joint protest as a rare display of solidarity between the state’s indigenous Naga and Meitei communities.
A police officer deployed at the protest venue described the demonstration as one of the strongest public expressions of unity between the Naga and Meitei communities since the outbreak of ethnic violence, highlighting growing calls for reconciliation, accountability, and an end to the ongoing conflict.
