Dozens of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staged a protest in Imphal today, the final day of the Sangai Festival 2025, demanding resettlement and safe return before any state celebration.
The demonstration began in front of Kangla, where the IDPs gathered holding placards and raising slogans against the continuation of the festival while thousands remain displaced. Shortly after the protest began, police intervened and moved the group to another side of the area to prevent them from marching further.
According to the protesters, celebrating the festival while IDPs continue to live in relief camps sends a false message of normalcy. They reiterated that the government must prioritise rehabilitation, security, and a clear roadmap for their return to their native villages.
As the Sangai Festival concludes today, the IDPs emphasized that their situation remains unresolved and that “resettlement must come before celebration.”
