We call Upon the Government of India to end the Manipur crisis
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi | May 3, 2026
Stop funding supporting, funding & protecting Kuki Militants
Today, 3rd May 2026, we, the 3rd May Organising Committee, representing the united voice of Meiteis students, youth, and civil society organisations from Manipur, Assam, and Tripura held a peaceful protest at the Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to mark three years of the Manipur violence that began on 3rd May 2023 and calling upon the Government of India to end the Manipur crisis immediately by ending the funding and support to Kuki Militants.
The members of the organizing committee are: Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD), Manipur Innovative Youth Organisation Delhi (MAIYOND), United KakchingStudents (UNIKAS), TMP Manipur, Ningols United Progressive Initiative (NUPI), LiklamNgakpa, No. 7, Meitei Heritage Society, Delhi Manipuri Society (DEMAS), World MeeteiCouncil, Assam Tripura Meetei Apunba Loop Delhi, and Delhi Meetei Co-Ordinating Committee (DMCC).
We strongly and unequivocally state that the Manipur violence began on 3rd May 2023, when heavily armed Kuki militant groups launched coordinated, calculated, and merciless attacks on innocent Meetei villages across Torbung (Bishnupur District), Ekou (Imphal East), Moreh (Tengnoupal District), and Meetei settlements in Churachandpur District. On that very first day, while Meetei homes were being set ablaze, temples and religious places burnt and desecrated and innocent civilians were under attack, Indian security forces and Manipur Police stood by as silent spectators. Their complete failure to discharge their basic constitutional duty abandoned civilians to violence and terror.
Abandoned by the very forces entrusted to protect them, Meetei civilians were compelled to rise in self-defence to protect their lives, families, homes, and ancestral land.
This unforgivable failure allowed the violence to spiral, resulting in mass displacement, and horrific atrocities. This is the undeniable truth of how the crisis began.
In the last three years, more than 200 Meeteis have been killed, 31 Meeteis are still missing, more than 6,000 Meetei houses have been burnt down, 280 temples were burnt down and desecrated. Alarmingly, the Government of India is protecting the Kuki militants, allowedthem to kill Meeteis with impunity. How many lives need to sacrificed to bring peace in Manipur
In the protest demonstration, representatives of the participating organisations delivered a united and uncompromising message:
Dr. Seram Rojesh, Convenor, Delhi Meetei Co-Ordinating Committee (DMCC), Delhi, stated:
“The first perpetrators who attacked Meetei villages at Torbung on 3rd May 2023 were openly seen carrying AK-47 rifles and militant uniform. They were Kuki militants protected under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement. Even after three years, neither have they been arrested nor has the NIA filed charges against them. Instead, these same militants continue to attack Meetei civilians while government forces continue to shield and protect them. This is glaring evidence of organised violence sustained through deliberate impunity.”
Mrs. Elizabeth from Meitei Heritage Society stated:
“The Indian state has not only failed Manipur but has also failed itself, proving unable to enforce the fundamental rights enshrined in our Constitution. The Government’s inaction has escalated the crisis, deepened tensions, including the Kuki–Naga conflict, and now threatens to engulf the entire state in a full-fledged civil war. The Kuki militants have even killed 13 security personnels, yet the Government remains silent. The Government’s alleged proxy war and attempt to balkanise Manipur will backfire, sprouting anti-India elements in India’s sensitive border state.”
Lanchenbi, President, Manipur Students Association Delhi (MSAD), stated:
“Manipur has always been a multicultural society, just like India itself. But the deliberate actions of the Government of India and its security forces are tearing apart this historic coexistence and destroying Manipur’s identity. The truth is undeniable — this conflict has been deepened through state complicity, and the hands of those who enabled this violence are stained with the blood of innocent people.”
Mr. Gunchenba, President, Manipur Innovative Youth Organisation Delhi (MAIYOND), stated:
“History proves that whenever our motherland Manipur faced an existential crisis, our youths rose to defend our motherland. Today, we carry that same spirit. We are ready to give our blood to defend our motherland. Whatever the cost, our youths will stand united and defend Manipur till our last breath. Let it be known the territorial and administrative integrity of Manipur is non negotiable”
Mr Alex. President of UNIKAS
“The people of Manipur were abandoned, but they refused to surrender.”
Jeten Haobijam, Liklam Nhakpa
“No peace is possible while truth continues to be suppressed. Negotiating with Kuki militants, while allowing them to kill civilians and Security is not peace deal, but surrender.”
Retd. Colonel Smt. Geerija Devi from Delhi Manipuri Society (DEMAS) stated:
“In the barbaric Tronglaobi terror attack by Kuki militants, even a five-month-old baby and a five-year-old child were butchered. If such savage killings continue even after three years, then who will protect our people? When the state abandons its citizens , people will defend ourself”
Shri Sanjeev from Assam Tripura Meetei Apunba Lup stated:
“Manipuris in Assam and Tripura stand united for Manipur’s protection. The Government of India must immediately stop backing Kuki militants for geopolitical interests. History is clear — from Afghanistan to Sri Lanka, those who nurture armed groups for geopolitics are eventually consumed by them. If you feed a snake, it will bite.”
We strongly condemn the continued support, funding, protection, and shielding extended to Kuki militant groups. Their continued operation is a direct assault on constitutional order and justice.
Our Demands
i. Immediate end to all support, funding, and protection to Kuki militant groups.
ii. Complete dismantling and disarmament of all militant networks operating in Manipur.
iii. Immediate restoration of constitutional rule, law and order in Manipur.
iv. Time-bound justice for every victim of violence since 3rd May 2023.
v. Decisive action by the Government of India to restore permanent peace and security.
vi. Finally, we declare with absolute resolve that the people of Manipur will neither forget nor forgive this injustice.
Enough is enough. Truth cannot be buried. Silence is complicity.
Stop protecting militants. Restore justice. Save Manipur now.
Issued by:
Media Co-ordinator
3rd May Organising Committee
Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
3rd May 2026