Imphal: Hundreds of Kuki-Zo women staged sit-in protests in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts of Manipur for the second consecutive day on Friday, demanding justice for victims of sexual violence and the killing of Kuki-Zo women during the ongoing crisis in the State.
The protests were organised by various women’s and civil society groups in the two districts, which are predominantly inhabited by Kuki-Zo communities. The protesters also reiterated demands for a separate administrative arrangement.
In Churachandpur district, the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights and the women’s wing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum held a sit-in protest on Thursday at the Wall of Remembrance in Tuibong. Participants displayed placards bearing messages such as “Justice for Kuki-Zo women”, “Stop sexual violence in Manipur”, “Sexual violence is not war, it is a crime”, “Human rights for all, not some”, and “We demand dignity, not silence”.
Similar protests were held in Kangpokpi district, where Kuki-Zo women from the Sadar Hills area organised sit-ins in Kangpokpi town. Demonstrators called for the arrest of those responsible for sexual violence during the conflict and criticised what they described as government inaction. Placards at the site read “No arrests, no justice”, “Government inaction allows impunity”, and “Indian women, stand with us”.
The protests come amid continuing unrest in Manipur, with women’s groups calling for accountability and protection of human rights during the ethnic conflict.