Manipur violence: Meitei ST Demand Committee submits affidavit to Commission of Inquiry

The Meitei ST Demand Committee of Manipur submitted an affidavit to the Commission of Inquiry in Imphal and stated that the demand for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST List of India had no connection with May 3rd violence in Manipur. The committee submitted its affidavit to the Commission of Inquiry on(Manipur violence.

The Commission of Inquiry is headed by former Gauhati High Court Chief Justice (Retd.) Ajay Lamba and has its main office in New Delhi with its additional office in Imphal.

The affidavit was submitted by STDCM President Dhiraj Yumnam in presence of other senior officials and advisors of the committee. The Committee has engaged Manipur High Court's advocate Ningombam Bupenda Meitei and his legal team in the matter.


The STDCM President Dhiraj Yumnam had stated that the demand for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST List of India had no connection with May 3rd violence of 2023 in Manipur.

A single judge bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu on Thursday reserved judgement on review petition of inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribes status order.

Earlier, the initial order, authored by the erstwhile Acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan had directed the state government to send a proposal on inclusion of Meiteis in the ST list, to the Union government, which led to widespread protests from existing ST communities in the state.

Manipur witnessed violent clashes, attacks, counter attacks and arsoning of houses, vehicles and government and private properties in more than 10 districts during and after May 3 'Tribal Solidarity March' called by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the scheduled tribe category.

In the ethnic violence more than 180 people have been killed.