Manipur NRC protest turns violent as police use tear gas against protesters

A torchlight protest in Manipur's Kakching district demanding an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census exercise turned violent on Sunday night, officials said. Some protesters allegedly threw stones at the police, who responded by firing tear gas shells. A few protesters suffered minor injuries.

Hundreds of villagers from Wabagai, Hiyanglam and nearby areas participated in the protest march, which covered around 3 km. The protesters raised the slogan 'No NRC, No Census' and opposed conducting the Census before the resettlement of people displaced by the ethnic conflict. 

As the protesters moved towards the Kakching district headquarters, police stopped them near the Keirak Dam area and asked them to return, officials said.

The situation later became tense after some protesters allegedly began pelting the police with stones. Police then fired several tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, resulting in minor injuries to a few protesters, officials said.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced since ethnic violence broke out between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and Kukis living in the adjoining hills of Manipur in May 2023.  (with inputs from PTI)