On the tense eve of the Sangai Festival, the approach to Hapta Kangjeibung was greeted not by celebration but by teargas smoke, as security forces fired multiple shells to disperse COCOMI volunteers attempting to march toward the venue.
What should have been a festive gateway has instead been transformed into a heavily guarded fortress, sealed off to the public except for cardholders.
Amid escalating boycott calls from COCOMI, internally displaced people living in relief camps, and various civil bodies, the festival grounds have been placed under a tight security lockdown.
Barricades, armed patrols, and layered police deployment now encircle the venue, turning it into a fortified zone far from the spirit of cultural festivity the event is known for.
Tension spiked late in the day when groups of COCOMI supporters attempted to throng the gates in protest against the government’s insistence on celebrating while thousands remain displaced and unrest persists.
Security personnel responded quickly, firing at least three rounds of teargas shells to push back the marchers and prevent any breach.
While the government is determined to showcase the state’s identity through the festival, many argue that culture cannot be celebrated when society remains wounded.
Whether the Sangai Festival proceeds as a symbol of resilience or becomes a reminder of strained priorities, its opening night has already been marked by barricades and teargas instead of joy.
