Standoff in Imphal: Protesters halted en route to CM’s bungalow, tensions escalate

IMPHAL — A large-scale protest march organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) was held across Imphal on Saturday, with demonstrators attempting to march towards the chief minister’s bungalow to submit a memorandum on the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

Protesters, mainly from the five valley districts, gathered at key locations across the city before planning to proceed in groups towards the chief minister’s residence at Babupara.

However, security forces prevented the march at several points. Later, a few representatives from the protest groups were allowed to meet Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and submit their memorandum.

Tensions escalated at multiple locations, including near Kangla Fort, Lamlong and Keishampat, following clashes between protesters and security personnel. Security forces resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, and several protesters were reportedly injured.

Also read: Manipur: Three killed, several injured in Ukhrul firing incidents

Imphal wore a deserted look during the day, with markets and commercial establishments remaining shut ahead of the protest, which began simultaneously at different locations around 1 pm.

Meanwhile, the chief minister  and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, addressing the media, appealed to the protesters—particularly COCOMI—to come forward for talks to help restore normalcy in the state.

COCOMI, in its memorandum, raised six key demands seeking clarity and action from the government. These include pressing the Centre to halt what it termed a “proxy war,” measures to tackle alleged narco-terrorism, and progress in delivering justice for recent incidents such as the April 7 Tronglaobi blast in Bishnupur district and the April 18 ambush near TM Kasom in Ukhrul district.