Displaced residents living in relief camps for more than a year clashed with security forces in Manipur’s Imphal East district on Saturday as they attempted to return to their homes in the Gwaltabi area. The confrontation unfolded at Yaingangpokpi and involved hundreds of people who have remained in camps since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
The group set out towards Gwaltabi, hoping to resettle in their abandoned homes, but were intercepted by security personnel enforcing restrictions on movement in sensitive areas. Tensions rose quickly, resulting in a brief but intense standoff between the two sides.
Security forces fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd as the situation escalated. The response came amid repeated attempts by displaced families to return home over the past year, efforts that have consistently met resistance from authorities. Similar confrontations have been reported in the district since the start of the Sangai Festival on 21 November, a period that has seen heightened security deployment.
Many of the displaced have spent over a year in relief camps after violence forced them to flee their homes. Their prolonged confinement has fuelled growing frustration, particularly as the government continues to assert that the state has largely returned to normal.
One protester, S. Ibemcha Devi, voiced the concerns shared by many. She questioned why residents were still barred from returning if normalcy had indeed been restored, highlighting the disconnect between official claims and conditions on the ground.
Authorities maintained that the situation remained tense but under control following the dispersal efforts. Security forces continue to monitor the area closely, especially with ongoing festival activities drawing public gatherings.
With recurring clashes reported throughout the festival period, the incident underscores the ongoing struggles faced by internally displaced families and the challenges for security agencies working to maintain order amid unresolved tensions.
