The United naga Council has directed sit-ins and solidarity rallies across Naga districts, while COCOMI plans a mass rally in Imphal on October 31 to press the Centre on the SoO pact and the rehabilitation of displaced people.
BY PC Bureau
October 28, 2026: The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body representing Naga tribes in Manipur, has endorsed a mega rally called by Meitei civil society organisation COCOMI in Imphal on October 31 and directed simultaneous peaceful sit-ins and solidarity rallies at Naga district headquarters, marking a show of renewed unity between Naga and Meitei groups over the state’s security situation.
In an public appeal, the UNC called for protests from 11 am in all Naga district headquarters. The mobilisation will press for the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, an end to what the organisations describe as a “proxy war” in Manipur, and the withdrawal of Assam Rifles from the state, particularly border areas, with the force replaced by other central forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF).
The UNC said the deteriorating security situation posed a grave threat to indigenous communities and the wider public. It alleged that Kuki militant groups operating under the SoO framework had unleashed violence and accused Assam Rifles of failing to protect vulnerable villages and secure the Indo-Myanmar border. These are allegations made by the council and have not been independently established by its statement.
The council has urged the Naga People’s Union, Imphal, other Naga organisations, churches, tribal bodies and village authorities to mobilise public participation. Women, youth and students have also been asked to join the protests to demonstrate collective concern over security, ancestral land and identity.
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COCOMI rally to press Centre on SoO and security
The October 31 rally was announced by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei civil society organisation, in association with four other bodies: the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTCM), Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), Naga People’s Union, Imphal (NPUI), and Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur (NHACM).
The rally will begin at Tiddim Ground in Kwakeithel and proceed to Thau Ground in Thangmeiband, where organisers plan to hold a public convention. Resolutions adopted at the meeting will be forwarded to the Centre for action, the organisers have said.
The campaign’s principal demands include abrogation of the SoO agreement, withdrawal of Assam Rifles, an end to what organisers allege is a proxy war against Manipur’s indigenous communities, and the rehabilitation and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
COCOMI convenor Y.K. Dhiren has accused Kuki militant groups covered by the SoO framework of contributing to the continuing violence. He has also called on the state and central governments to take responsibility for restoring security and ensuring accountability for civilian killings. The allegations form part of the organisers’ stated case for the mobilisation.
SoO agreement at the centre of renewed protests
The UNC’s endorsement comes amid renewed tensions involving Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga communities. The broader ethnic conflict in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, while Naga-Kuki-Zo tensions have added another layer to the state’s security challenges.
The SoO arrangement, signed in 2008 between the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups, established a framework for suspending armed operations and adhering to agreed ground rules. The agreement expired in early September 2026 and has not been formally extended by the Centre, according to recent reports. <Cite refs={[“turn683526search4″,”turn683526search2”]} />
The agreement has come under renewed scrutiny following a security operation at the designated Sinai camp, where authorities reportedly found far fewer cadres than expected and arrested individuals allegedly present without authorisation. The operation has intensified demands for an audit of designated camps and stricter enforcement of the agreement’s ground rules.
The October 19 killing of three Meitei men who had gone to collect firewood also heightened tensions and added urgency to COCOMI’s campaign. The incident prompted renewed calls for action against those responsible and a reassessment of security arrangements.
The response of the central and state governments to these demands will be closely watched as Manipur continues to grapple with prolonged displacement, insecurity and deep mistrust among communities.
