At least five persons were injured as fresh tension erupted in Bishnupur district on Friday evening after a group of people displaced from areas in Churachandpur district attempted to march towards their abandoned villages. Meanwhile during the tension some Police Vehicles were also got damaged when the displaced persons started pelting stones against Police firing of tear gas shells and mock bombs in order to dispersed them.The IDPs, hailing from different places including Phougakchao Ikhai, Torbung Bangla, Waikhurok, and parts of Churachandpur, were stopped by security forces at a barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai. As the situation turned volatile, protesters sat down in front of the barricade, declaring they would not leave until the Sangai Festival is cancelled.
The IDPs, displaced since the May 3, 2023, ethnic violence, have been protesting the Government’s decision to hold the Sangai Festival without first rehabilitating them. The protesters argued that there should be no obstacle in allowing them to return to their homes and resume normal lives if the Government perceives normalcy has returned to Manipur enough to host an event like the Sangai Festival.The standoff intensified in the evening, leading to a confrontation. Security personnel fired multiple rounds of tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the protesters who reportedly pelted stones at the security personnel. The situation was brought under control after additional forces arrived at the spot. At least five IDPs sustained injuries in the clashes, along with some police personnel.
