New Delhi: Thousands of people across Manipur’s five valley districts staged coordinated sound protests and marches on Friday evening, expressing anger over continuing violence, ongoing killings and the prolonged failure to restore normalcy in the state.
The demonstrations turned tense near Kangla Fort in Imphal, where police fired tear gas shells and erected barricades to prevent protesters from moving towards Raj Bhavan, a high security zone located around 300 metres from the fort’s western gate. No injuries were reported.
Kangla Fort, the historic seat of political and cultural authority of Manipur’s erstwhile kingdom, emerged as the main centre of the mobilisation. Thousands gathered inside the complex, marched through its premises and raised slogans against the government. Protesters banged utensils, beat drums and sounded vehicle horns to amplify their demands.
As the gathering grew, security personnel strengthened arrangements along the road leading towards Raj Bhavan. Police subsequently fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and prevent the situation from escalating.
The protest was organised in response to a call by the Federation of Haomee. Between 7.30 pm and 8 pm, residents across the valley participated in coordinated demonstrations, clanging utensils, beating drums, sounding vehicle horns and sirens, striking electric poles with hammers and shouting slogans against the government.
For nearly 30 minutes, neighbourhoods across the valley echoed with loud sounds as people expressed their frustration over the continuing conflict and the lack of a lasting resolution.
The Federation of Haomee described the demonstration as an “ultimate call for awakening”, urging people to unite against continued killings, prolonged ethnic tensions and the failure to restore normalcy.
Protesters also raised demands concerning security and immigration, including the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), identification of illegal immigrants and abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with armed groups.
The widespread participation and tense scenes near Kangla Fort highlighted the growing public frustration over the crisis. Manipur has been grappling with ethnic conflict since May 2023, with concerns continuing over violence, security and the absence of a lasting political settlement.
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