Imphal: Transgender activist and social worker Malem Thongam on Sunday launched a mass signature campaign to gather public support for a Supreme Court petition seeking unrestricted movement on national highways connecting Manipur and addressing alleged violence arising from ethnic tensions in the sensitive border state. The campaign was inaugurated at Khurai Lamlong in Imphal East district.
Speaking at the event, Thongam said a petition will be filed before the Supreme Court to take legal action against the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) for blocking her “Cycling for Manipur Peace” rally from Delhi to Imphal. CoTU, a prominent civil society organisation representing the Kuki-Zo community, is primarily active in the Sadar Hills of Kangpokpi district.
Thongam highlighted that the move follows inaction by the Manipur police on a complaint she had lodged with the Officer-in-Charge of the Kangpokpi district police. The complaint, submitted via Heingang police station on January 2, 2026, alleged that CoTU had threatened her life. She urged the authorities to register an FIR regarding threats received while she was en route for her campaign. Thongam recalled that on December 17, 2025, CoTU had publicly opposed her movement in Senapati district, warning that her campaign could generate tension during the Christmas period. She stressed that CoTU’s actions violate Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement.
Thongam’s “Cycling for Manipur Peace” campaign began on October 2, 2025, from Delhi’s Qutub Minar. Over the course of the journey, she covered more than 2,300 km across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, and finally Manipur, promoting unity in the conflict-hit region. The first phase concluded on December 19, 2025, in Imphal, where she reached Sekmai Police Station in Imphal West district at 4:30 am, escorted by a special BSF convoy from Senapati.
Through the signature campaign, Thongam aims to mobilise public support to ensure safe passage and legal recourse, reinforcing her commitment to peace and communal harmony in the region.