Several Manipur-based organisations held a mass protest at Jantar Mantar today and submitted a detailed memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the immediate and unconditional return of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Manipur to their original homes.
The protest was jointly organised by the Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC), Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD), and United Kachching Students. The demonstration was held from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm and was attended by displaced persons, students, activists, and community leaders from Manipur who are currently living in Delhi.
In the memorandum dated December 14, the organisations stated that more than 65,000 people from both Meetei and Kuki communities have been displaced since violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2025. They said many families have been forced to live in relief camps for months under unsafe and degrading conditions, with no clear plan for rehabilitation. 
The groups pointed out that despite repeated assurances by the Government of India, the deadline announced for the return of displaced people by December 2025 has passed without any concrete policy, financial package, or rehabilitation roadmap. According to them, this has left thousands of families uncertain about their future.
Addressing the gathering, speakers said the situation in Manipur is not merely an administrative failure but a serious political and humanitarian crisis. They alleged that enforced segregation, creation of so-called buffer zones, and prolonged displacement have deepened divisions between communities and worsened insecurity on the ground.
The memorandum also raised concerns about the continued operation of armed groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement. The organisations alleged that these armed groups continue to function with protection while civilians remain disarmed and vulnerable. They demanded that all state-sponsored armed militias operating under the SoO framework be dismantled immediately.
The protest was addressed by several community representatives and activists, including Dr Seram Rojesh, Convenor of DMCC; Dr Naorem Bobo, spokesperson of DMCC; Mr Hijam Rajen, Advisor, DMCC; Ms Elizabeth, social and gender activist; Ms Sangeeta, spokesperson of the Women’s Wing of DMCC; Ms Lanchenbi, President of MSAD; and Mr Amarik Singh Pawal, a Manipur Sikh and social activist.
Speakers also referred to past Supreme Court rulings, including the dismantling of Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh, to argue that the use of civilians and proxy armed groups is unconstitutional. They said similar constitutional principles must be applied in Manipur without delay.
Many displaced persons who participated in the protest said they only want to return home in safety and dignity. They warned that prolonged confinement in relief camps amounts to collective punishment and erodes trust in constitutional governance.
The memorandum was also marked to the Union Home Minister, all Members of Parliament, and Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. The organisations urged the central government to act urgently in the interest of constitutional values, national unity, and the dignity of the people of Manipur.
