Violent clashes erupted in Manipur's Imphal East district on Thursday as security forces used tear gas to disperse a protest rally staged by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in a relief camp.
Approximately 100 IDPs from the Akampat relief camp attempted to march in protest but were met with force by security personnel, leading to a heated confrontation.
The residents, carrying placards and banners, were demanding their rehabilitation and a resolution to the ongoing ethnic violence that has displaced them from their homes in Moreh, Tengnoupal district, and other areas.
As the protesters emerged, police deployed tear gas and smoke bombs at the camp gate to halt the demonstration, igniting a physical clash between the two sides.
Despite the initial dispersal, the protesters were later permitted to march to Singjamei Chongtham Leikai, about 2km from the Chief Minister’s bungalow.
During the altercation, several protesters sustained injuries, and the situation escalated when tear gas smoke infiltrated a nearby school, causing panic among students.
One student fainted from the exposure, prompting a frantic response from parents who rushed to the school to retrieve their children. Teachers quickly evacuated students to safer locations.
The IDPs condemned the government's heavy-handed tactics, contrasting the strict enforcement in the valley with the more lenient approach in hill districts like Kangpokpi and Churachandpur.
They accused the state authorities of selectively applying the law to suppress their right to protest.
"We have a democratic right to stage a protest rally and voice our grievances. Why is the state government preventing us from doing so? Why can't they prevent the Kuki people from protesting? Will the ongoing conflict be resolved if the law is imposed only in the valley?" one protester questioned.
The protesters expressed frustration with their prolonged stay in the relief camp and demanded that the state government take concrete steps during the ongoing session to ensure their return home.
Their slogans included calls to "Implement NRC," "Home Sweet Home," and "Remove Assam Rifles."
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