𝗗𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”

Tensions escalated in Imphal East district as a large group of protesters, primarily women, attempted to storm the office of the District Commissioner (DC) in a show of defiance against what they term an ongoing “identity crisis” in Manipur.

The protest is part of a wider agitation spearheaded by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), now in its fourth day. Demonstrators from across Imphal East, carrying placards and raising slogans, marched towards the DC complex to condemn recent actions perceived as attempts to undermine Manipur’s state identity.

Security forces, both state and central, were heavily deployed and stopped the protesters nearly one kilometre away from the DC office, at the DC Road Junction.

A brief scuffle broke out between the protesters and security personnel, but tensions were defused when authorities allowed a select group to meet the DC.

The protesters submitted a memorandum with strong demands – a public apology from the Governor, and the resignation of the Chief Secretary, Security Adviser, and Director General of Police (DGP).

These demands, they said, stem from a growing sense of alienation and disrespect towards the people and identity of Manipur.