Amidst ongoing conflict in Manipur, a video depicting the disrespectful treatment of the Meitei ‘Salai Taret flag’ by armed individuals believed to be Kuki-Zo militants has sparked strong condemnation from Meitei organizations, who demand swift action against the perpetrators.
BY PC bureau
April 14, 2025: A fresh wave of anger has swept through the Meitei community in Manipur following the widespread circulation of a disturbing social media video. The footage purportedly shows a group of individuals identified as suspected Kuki-Zo militants disrespecting the ‘Salai Taret flag’, also known as the ‘Flag of Kangleipak’, a deeply revered symbol of the Meitei people.
The distressing video appears to depict several individuals clad in military-style uniforms and carrying firearms kicking and stomping on the Meitei flag. The act, captured and shared widely online, has been met with strong condemnation from community organizations.
Leading the outcry, the All Manipur United Clubs Organization (AMUCO) President Nando Luwang on Monday issued a strong statement denouncing the actions depicted in the video. He described the desecration of the flag as a profound insult to the entire Meitei community and labeled those responsible as “misguided persons.”
Luwang further asserted that the armed individuals shown disrespecting the sacred Meitei symbol likely belong to Kuki-Zo underground groups operating in the region.
Armed Kuki-Zo militants trampled on and spat on the Salai Taret Firal(flag) of the Meitei community.
This act reflects the extent of disrespect they’ve shown towards the Meitei community. The flag is not just a piece of cloth—it holds our emotions, identity, and pride.
Since PR… pic.twitter.com/BdsQmQeeVT
— Diana// ꯗꯤꯑꯅꯥ (@diana_warep) April 13, 2025
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In response to this inflammatory incident, the AMUCO president called upon concerned officials to launch an immediate and thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Luwang emphasized the gravity of the act, stating that disrespecting the Meitei community’s symbol is an insult to the nation as a whole.
The ‘Salai Taret Flag’ holds immense cultural and historical significance for the Meitei community. Its design features seven distinct colors, each representing one of the primary Meitei clans: Ningthouja (Mangang), Luwang, Khuman, Angom, Moirang, Kha-Ngangba, and Salai-Leisangthem. Tradition dictates that the vibrant hues of the flag were inspired by the colors of the sun at the time of the birth of the seven sons of Ibudhou Pakhangba, a significant deity in Meitei mythology.
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Beyond its historical roots, the Salai Taret Flag serves as a powerful visual representation of the diverse yet unified identity of the Meitei community, making its alleged desecration a deeply sensitive issue amidst the ongoing conflict in the state. The incident is likely to further inflame existing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
