Sit-in protest held at Lakhipur demanding Manipuri Autonomous Council in Assam
Source: The Sangai Express

Jiribam, March 02 2026: Pressing for the creation of a Manipuri Autonomous Council in Assam, the Manipuri Autonomous Council Demand Co-ordination Committee, Assam, in association with 11 organisations of Assam, staged a sit-in demonstration today at Fultertal Bypass, Lakhipur in Assam.

The protest witnessed the participation of members from various Meitei and Meitei Pangal organisations residing in Assam.

Demonstrators reiterated their longstanding demand for constitutional recognition and administrative autonomy to safeguard the identity and ensure the development of the Manipuri community in Assam.

Sit-in protest held at Lakhipur demanding Manipuri Autonomous Council in Assam

It may be mentioned that the Coordination Committee has been actively campaigning for the establishment of a Manipuri Autonomous Council and has earlier organized several sit-in demonstrations.

The committee has also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Assam, local MLA and to the Members of Parliament in this regard.

Speaking at the protest, Co-ordination Committee chairman, Retd ACS Kangabam Shantikumar stated that around 450 villages in Assam are inhabited by numbers of Meitei and Meitei Pangal communities, with an estimated population of approximately 4.5 lakh.

However, he alleged that due to the lack of representation in the Legislative Assembly and Parliament, the community has faced development neglect over the years.

Referring to the granting of Autonomous Councils to three OBC communities in Assam - Moran, Matak and Koch-Rajbongshi in 2019, he said that similar recognition should be extended to the Manipuri community as well.

The chairman further cautioned that in the absence of an Autonomous Council, the Meitei and Meitei Pangal communities in Assam may face setbacks in socioeconomic progress.

He added that the agitation would continue in various forms until their demands are fulfilled and appealed to members of the community to extend continued support to the movement.

Following the sit-in demonstration, a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Assam was submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Lakhipur Co-District.