Security Forces Clash with Displaced Residents in Imphal
Seven individuals, including a police commando and a local journalist, sustained injuries on Saturday when security personnel deployed multiple tear gas shells and mock bombs to prevent internally displaced persons from marching toward their original homes in Gwaltabi village, located in the periphery of Imphal East district.
Protest Turns Violent at Village Border
The confrontation began early morning when dozens of IDPs gathered at Yaingangpokpi area in Imphal East with the intention of accessing their abandoned residences in Gwaltabi. Security forces intercepted the group at the border area separating Yaingangpokpi and Gwaltabi Khunnou villages, where tensions quickly escalated into a violent stand-off.
A police commando and a journalist working for a local television channel suffered burn injuries when a tear gas canister exploded near them. The remaining injured included protesting IDPs and local residents who had joined the demonstration in solidarity with the displaced community.
Frustration Over Extended Displacement
Thounaojam Yaimabi, one of the displaced persons, expressed the community's frustration to media representatives. "We have been living in relief camps for more than two and a half years," she stated. "Instead of understanding our plight, the Manipur authorities are busy organizing the Sangai Festival."
She further explained their motivation for the protest: "We wanted to assess the condition of our houses since authorities mentioned compensation for reconstruction or repair. However, we were denied entry to our own village."
The displaced individuals demanded immediate government action to facilitate their resettlement without additional delays. As the stand-off intensified, the Imphal East District Commissioner arrived at the location attempting to calm the protesters.
The DC proposed that IDPs could visit Gwaltabi village in small groups of four or five people in the coming days to evaluate their properties. However, the displaced persons rejected this suggestion, insisting on their right to enter their village on Saturday itself.
Escalation and Broader Context
Following the breakdown of negotiations, security forces escalated their response by firing additional tear gas shells and even live rounds to disperse the gathering crowd.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of the Manipur administration's earlier announcement regarding a three-phase resettlement plan for IDPs, particularly those from peripheral valley areas, scheduled for completion by December. Former Chief Secretary PK Singh had similarly declared intentions to close all relief camps by year's end.
The ongoing Sangai Festival 2025 has emerged as a new flashpoint in Manipur, with IDPs organizing protests and attempting to return to their original villages since the festival's inauguration on November 21.
