Ukhrul: The swearing in ceremony day of the new Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla as the 17th Governor of Manipur on Friday has been greeted with violence in Kangpokpi District. Tension has gripped Kangpokpi town on Tuesday evening as a large group of protestors, reportedly angered by unmet promises, marched towards the Superintendent of Police office around 7 PM.
According to Manipur Police, a protest rally organized by Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) became violent on their demand to withdraw Central Security Forces deployed at Saibol village.
Frustration reportedly mounted after the SP allegedly failed to act on assurances he had personally provided, even as the deadline he set came and went without resolution.
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In an unverified viral video, armed militants with sophisticated weapons were seen roaming alongside protestors, allegedly in Kangpokpi township in Manipur.
The situation reportedly took a violent turn when Central Security Forces stationed at the SP office resorted to using blank rounds and tear gas to disperse the agitated crowd.
The protestors, as per sources, attempted to seal off the SP office with chants of “Kukiland” echoing through Kangpokpi streets.
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In a photo that has gone viral, Manoj Prabhakar, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kangpokpi District, Manipur is seen with a head injury, including official vehicles vandalized.
Protestors in large numbers refused to back down and continued their agitation along the National Highway, demanding accountability and action. Reinforcement coming in from the Kuki-Zo community from nearby villages has been confirmed while filing this report.
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Adding to the unrest, volunteers from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) reportedly locked the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office in Kangpokpi, intensifying the protest. The main grievance centers around the refusal to remove Central Forces from Saibol village, which has been a flashpoint of contention.
Manipur Police said that the SP of Kangpokpi has received necessary medical treatment and is out of danger. The state Police also informed that the SP is presently leading the joint security forces in tackling the situation, adding that huge contingents of security forces have been deployed to tackle the situation. “Situation is under control and being closely monitored,” said Police.
It is worth noting that the CoTU in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District, citing the Government’s persistent indifference to their repeated appeals for the withdrawal of central forces from Saibol, had imposed a 12-hour total shutdown across the its jurisdiction, effective from 2:00 PM on January 2, 2025.
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