Imphal: Tension escalated in Imphal East on November 24 as a large group of internally displaced people, totaling hundreds, attempted to march back to their ancestral villages, leading to security forces deploying tear gas to break up the crowds. These residents, who have been living in relief camps since the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023, embarked on their march from camps situated in Ekou, Dolaithabi, and Yengkhuman. The protestors insisted that the ongoing Sangai festival was a clear indication that “normalcy” had returned to the state, thereby justifying their return. Authorities confirmed that the groups were trying to reach their abandoned homes in Pukhao and near the Dolaithabi Dam but were ultimately blocked by security personnel.
The demonstrators voiced their frustration, arguing that if the government was promoting public messages of stability, those assurances should also extend to their situation. A protestor, S Kumarjit Meitei, spoke to reporters, conveying the desperation felt by many to resume their economic activities. “We are mostly farmers. Our economic livelihood has been completely cut off,” he stated, asserting their demand “to return home” and questioning the prolonged duration of their confinement in relief camps.
According to authorities, the crowd became increasingly agitated when they were barred from proceeding into a sensitive area that borders the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district. A brief scuffle ensued between the protestors and security forces, who then deployed tear gas after attempts were made to push past the barricade. Officials maintain that the foothill villages of Ekou, Dolaithabi, and Yengkhuman were among the areas hardest hit during the 2023 ethnic clashes, and security agencies deem them to still be vulnerable. Consequently, officials have affirmed that movement restrictions will remain in place until the entire situation is comprehensively assessed as fully safe for the residents’ return.
