IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 21: Tensions continue to simmer in Manipur following the confrontation involving Sanajaoba Leishemba, Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha), and Themthing Ngashangva, IGP, which unfolded in Imphal during the November 20 protest rally of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The incident has triggered sharp reactions from community bodies, including the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and the Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL).
In a press release, the TNL stated that the episode “speaks volume of how the state of Manipur is administered and governed.” TNL expressed concern that what should have been treated as an ordinary administrative matter had escalated into a major public issue. The organisation criticised the Hon’ble MP for drawing conclusions without verifying the issue from the IGP, who was on the ground managing the tense situation at the time.
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TNL further condemned the MP’s move to request the Hon’ble Governor of Manipur for the suspension of the IGP, describing it as an “arrogation of authority” amounting to a “kangaroo court.” The organisation demanded the constitution of a high-powered Enquiry Committee or Commission headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court Judge from outside Manipur, with one month’s timeframe to submit its report. “Enough is Enough of valley Chauvinism,” the release concluded.
Meanwhile, in a separate press note issued on November 21, the Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL) conveyed deep concern over the confrontation between the office of the MP (Rajya Sabha) and the Police Department during the IDP rally. TSL expressed empathy with the needs and demands of the Internally Displaced Persons and appealed to the authorities to look into the matter.
TSL acknowledged both the Hon’ble MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba and IGP Themthing Ngashangva as respected figures, the former as an advocate for peace and the latter as a senior police officer known for prudence. While noting that emotions can run high during protest rallies, TSL stressed that differences in opinion should be resolved amicably without overshadowing duty and responsibility toward the people and the state.
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The organisation appealed to both the MP’s office and the Police Department to resolve the matter harmoniously at the earliest in the larger interest of the public. TSL also urged the public to refrain from posting inflammatory comments on social media and emphasised the collective responsibility of ensuring that “the pride and beauty of Manipur not mar by violence.”