Protests Across Manipur Valley Demand End to ‘Proxy War’ Against Indigenous Communities

Imphal: Massive protests erupted across Manipur’s Imphal Valley following the October 19 killing of three Meitei woodcutters at the Khongban Sunurok hill range. Organised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and supported by COCOMI, the demonstrations disrupted normal life, with schools, colleges and markets remaining closed. Protesters accused authorities of failing to ensure civilian safety.

The demonstrators demanded the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki armed groups, strict action against militants and the recovery of illegal weapons. Meanwhile, women vendors in Imphal staged separate marches demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and senior officials over the killings and the prevailing security situation.