Protests Intensify in Imphal Over Removal of ‘Manipur’ from State Bus
The demonstrations, led by the COCOMI, saw hundreds of protesters, including members of the Meira Paibis women’s group and student organizations, march toward Raj Bhavan,
IMPHAL – The unrest in Imphal, the capital city of Manipur was continued into May 26, as students and women’s groups attempted to march towards Raj Bhavan but were stopped by security forces, who again used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
Protesters formed a human chain stretching from Imphal airport to Keisampat, holding placards asserting that “Manipur’s identity is non-negotiable” and demanding an apology from the Governor Violent clashes erupted in Imphal, Manipur’s capital, on Sunday, May 25, 2025, as protests against the alleged removal of the word “Manipur” from a state-run bus escalated, leaving at least seven people injured, including women and students.
The demonstrations, led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), saw hundreds of protesters, including members of the Meira Paibis women’s group and student organizations, march toward Raj Bhavan, demanding a public apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and accountability for what they describe as an insult to the state’s identity.
The unrest stems from an incident on May 20, 2025, when security personnel at the Gwaltabi checkpoint, 25 km from Imphal, allegedly ordered the removal of “Manipur” from the windshield of a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district.
The act, perceived as an erasure of Manipur’s cultural and historical legacy, triggered widespread outrage. COCOMI’s 48-hour statewide bandh, which ended Friday midnight, paralyzed Imphal Valley, shutting down businesses, schools, and public transport across five districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur.
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On Sunday, protesters gathered at Khwairamband Keithel and marched approximately 500 meters before being stopped by security forces near Kangla Gate, about 150 meters from Raj Bhavan. Tensions flared when police and central forces, including the Rapid Action Force, deployed tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd, resulting in injuries to seven protesters, with five requiring hospitalization.
COCOMI condemned the use of force, stating, “The deployment of tear gas and mock bombs on unarmed civilians, including mothers and elderly women, is unbecoming of a democratic administration.”
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COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba demanded the resignation of Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, accusing them of failing to protect Manipur’s dignity.
The group also called for replacing the government’s two-member inquiry committee, comprising Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar and Secretary Th. Kirankumar Singh, with an independent panel led by a retired High Court judge. The current committee, tasked with investigating the May 20 incident and submitting a report within 15 days, has been dismissed by protesters as inadequate.
The protests, supported by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), and Delhi-based Meitei organizations, have highlighted broader ethnic tensions in Manipur, which has been under President’s Rule since February 2025, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
The state has been grappling with ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, claiming over 260 lives and displacing 60,000 people.
