The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) has announced non-violent demonstrations on June 24, seeking Union territory status for the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur.
The ITLF, in its statement, urged widespread participation to support their political demands.
The forum also plans to protest the autonomous district council (ADC) elections, accusing them of creating divisions among the Kuki-Zo community.
"We request everyone to join in great numbers to demonstrate our political demands," the ITLF stated.
The rallies will occur simultaneously in various hill regions, including Pherzawl, Kanggui, and Tengnoupal. A total shutdown will accompany the day of the rally.
"We have demanded separation from Manipur, and so far, there has been no settlement to our political demands," the ITLF reiterated, urging people to boycott the ADC polls.
May 3, 2023, remains a significant and grim marker in Manipur's history. On this day, the state's unity fractured, not by physical borders, but by an invisible wall of animosity.
The "Tribal Solidarity March" sparked the division, protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
The ensuing violence pitted the Meitei against the Kuki communities, resulting in over 200 deaths and countless displacements, shattering the daily lives of Manipuris.
Historically, Manipur's geography fostered a degree of segregation, with Meiteis in the valley, Kukis in the south, and Nagas in the north. Despite this, coexistence prevailed until last May's violence.
A year later, the scars remain raw. Families, once neighbours for generations, now stand divided. The ITLF's latest call for demonstrations underscores the persistent and unresolved political tensions within the state.
Earlier in 2023, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the principal organisation representing all Kuki tribes in Manipur, demanded the creation of a new state under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution.
"Following its crucial cabinet meeting on July 12, 2023, and the executive decision taken thereafter, the Kuki Inpi Manipur explicitly stated its demand for a separate administration in the form of a separate state under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution," read a press note issued by KIM General Secretary Khaikhohauh Gangte.
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