Unknown armed miscreants launched an attack on a chariot being readied for the upcoming Ratha Yatra festival in Imphal, Manipur, early on Thursday.
The incident unfolded around 12:30 am near the Sana Konung crossing, where the assailants, arriving by car from the direction of Advance Hospital, fired two rounds at the parked chariot before swiftly fleeing towards Palace Gate.
Imphal East police swiftly responded to the scene, initiating an investigation to apprehend the perpetrators behind the brazen assault.
The motive behind the attack remains shrouded in uncertainty amid ongoing regional tensions and a lively discourse on social media regarding the appropriateness of celebrating the Ratha Yatra festival, slated for June 8.
Last year, concerns akin to those arising now led to a scaled-down observance of the Ratha Yatra, with ritual ceremonies held but the customary procession cancelled.
Manipur, troubled by recurring unrest, had opted out of the annual Rath Yatra procession, a centuries-old event integral to the cultural fabric of the region.
The celebration in Imphal Valley traces its origins to 1780 during the reign of Maharaja Bhagyachandra, gaining public prominence in 1832 with the construction of the Govindaji Temple under Maharaja Gambhir Singh's rule.
This year, amid heightened security concerns and the decision by the Shree Shree Govindaji Temple Board—custodians of the local Rath Yatra, known as Kang Chingba—to refrain from organising public events, the atmosphere surrounding the festival remains tense.
Traditionally, the festival involves placing idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in a towering 30-foot wooden chariot, pulled ceremonially by devotees from the palace compound through the streets.
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