Manipur: Clash Erupts Between IDPs and Security Forces in Imphal

IMPHAL —   Tensions flared in Imphal East district on Monday after hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from valley-based relief camps attempted to march back to their abandoned villages, leading to a confrontation with security forces near Pukhao and Dolaithabi Dam.

The protesters, largely from the Meitei community, were displaced during the ethnic violence that broke out between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups in May 2023, which left more than 260 people dead and uprooted thousands across Manipur.

The IDPs, originally from foothill villages such as Ekou, Dolaithabi, and Yengkhuman, argued that the ongoing Sangai Festival—Manipur’s flagship cultural event that began on November 21—indicated the restoration of normalcy. They demanded immediate rehabilitation and access to their farmlands, which they say have remained inaccessible for over two years.

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Speaking to reporters, IDP protester S. Kumarjit Meitei said ” “We are mostly farmers. Our livelihood has been completely cut off after we fled our homes. If the government says normalcy has returned, then why are we still in relief camps?”

Another displaced resident, Noni, said that during earlier visits to the village fringes, they found utensils, water basins, and household items in use—suggesting the presence of security personnel inside abandoned homes. The discovery, she said, deepened the sense of dispossession among IDPs.

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Security forces had erected multiple barricades, terming the region a “highly sensitive zone” due to unresolved ethnic tensions. When protest groups attempted to push through the cordons, forces responded with tear gas shells and mild lathicharge, resulting in minor injuries on both sides. No arrests were reported, but the confrontation caused temporary disruption of movement in nearby localities.

The incident follows earlier protests on November 20 and 21, when IDPs and members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) tried to storm the Sangai Festival venue at Hapta Kangjeibung, prompting the use of tear gas and leaving several officers injured, including a superintendent of police.

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Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 2025, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, with rehabilitation and peace-building efforts progressing slowly. COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba criticised the administration for “prioritising tourism over humanitarian concerns,” pointing to delays in IDP resettlement and the continued vulnerability of affected households.

In response to the latest escalation, security forces have intensified patrols in Imphal East and surrounding districts. The Sangai Festival continues under heavy deployment, though civil society groups have renewed calls for structured dialogue between the communities and urgent action on rehabilitation.

Manipur’s displacement crisis remains one of the most protracted in recent years, with over 60,000 people still living in temporary shelters. The latest clash underscores the deep uncertainties surrounding return, resettlement, and reconciliation in a state fractured along ethnic lines.