The security situation in Manipur deteriorated sharply on Monday after at least four people were killed in two separate incidents of violence overnight and on Monday morning. The deaths triggered widespread protests that brought large parts of Imphal to a near standstill, with angry residents placing two bodies outside the chief minister’s residence before police forcibly removed them.
The first incident happened during a musical event in a neighbourhood where Meiteis and Pangal Muslims live together. People in the crowd started throwing stones and firing guns, which left several injured. A 24-year-old later died from bullet wounds. While it is still unclear what started the violence, the event has made tensions worse in an already sensitive area.
The second incident happened on Monday morning, when armed attackers fired on villagers who were collecting firewood in the foothills near the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts. Three people were killed, and several others were hurt. The attack caused immediate anger.
Some residents brought two of the bodies to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s heavily guarded home in Imphal and placed them outside the gate to protest the ongoing lack of protection for civilians.
Police intervened to remove the bodies. Police stepped in to remove the bodies and break up the crowd, using force to clear the area. Protests soon spread throughout the city. People set up roadblocks in several places; markets and shops closed, and daily life was badly disrupted. Security increased around the chief minister’s home and on the main roads into the city.
Ethnic violence has continued in Manipur since May 2023 (primarily between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities). A new government took office earlier this year with a pledge to improve security, yet the attacks and violence continue. The latest killings have triggered fresh outrage at the state’s continuing failure to protect people in the more remote areas, which are still vulnerable to attack by armed groups.
Local legislators and community representatives have demanded swift arrests and strong action. Local lawmakers and community leaders have called for swift arrests and better protection for people who must enter contested areas for their daily work.
The CM visited the injured at a private hospital. So far, officials have not given a detailed statement about what happened or who the attackers were. Police are still investigating both incidents and also taking measures to restore order and prevent further escalation.