At least five (5) Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who took part in the protest at Yengangpokpi on the fringe of Imphal East district, were injured in a protest standoff with security forces today while attempting to return to their respective abandoned houses in Gwaltabi.
The confrontation broke out when the security forces intercepted the IDPs marching towards Gwaltabi, triggering a clash that left several IDPs injured, including a local video journalist covering the incident. The injured were first rushed to the Yaingangpokpi Primary Health Centre and later shifted to JNIMS Hospital in Imphal East district.
The protesting IDPs reiterated their stand that holding the Sangai Festival while thousands remain displaced is unacceptable. They argued that if the state believes Manipur is stable enough to host a major festival, then resettlement efforts should be prioritised. Heavy deployment continues in the Yengangpokpi–Gwaltabi area as authorities monitor the situation.
Agitators blamed the administration for the situation, despite having held a prior meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, and condemned the excessive police action.
