IT News
Imphal, Sept 9:
Major districts across Manipur, including the capital city of Imphal, were brought to a standstill today as thousands of students took to the streets, demanding the resignation of several government officials, including 50 MLAs, the state’s Security Advisor, and the Director General of Police (DGP). Protests erupted in Imphal, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching districts, following a public ultimatum by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) calling for the immediate removal of these officials.
The unrest follows the recent drone bomb attacks on Koutruk village in Imphal West, which protesters attribute to the state’s failure to protect its citizens from continued violence. The attacks, allegedly by Kuki militants, have heightened tensions in the region, with a rocket bomb killing a ritual practitioner in Moirang just days ago.
In Imphal, students from CC Higher Secondary School, along with hundreds of others from TG Higher Secondary School, marched towards the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and Raj Bhavan, demanding action. The students were met with heavy resistance from central security forces at the Raj Bhavan gate and state police at Sanjenthong, where they clashed with officers after breaking through barricades.
Protesters carried banners with slogans such as “Resign all 50 MLAs on moral grounds,” “Down with Central and State Government,” and “Give Unified Command Chairmanship to competent persons.” Their demands included the withdrawal of central paramilitary forces and the resignation of the Security Advisor and DGP, citing their inability to safeguard the people amid ongoing attacks.
A protester at the scene stated, “We are not safe even in our homes. The government must take responsibility and protect us from these attacks.”
Student agitators meet Governor and CM
Amid growing unrest in Manipur, student agitators today met with Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to push for immediate action in resolving the ongoing crisis. The students presented a six-point demand, with a key focus on addressing attacks by Kuki militants using drones and rocket bombs against the Meitei community. They also demanded that control of the Unified Command, which currently oversees security operations in the state, be handed over to the state government.
Later, the students met Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and reiterated their demands. The Chief Minister, after the meeting, took to social media platform ‘X’ to describe the meeting as “fruitful” and expressed appreciation for the students’ concerns. He wrote, “Had a fruitful meeting with the students of Imphal College and Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School at my Secretariat. They voiced their concerns regarding the ongoing disturbances in our state, and I truly value their input. We had a constructive discussion about the challenges they are facing and the impact on their education. I want to assure all students that we are committed to addressing these issues. The voices of our youths are important, and together, we will strive for a better future for Manipur.”
Protests were not limited to Imphal. In Thoubal district, students marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Ahanthem Subhash, IAS. Similarly, a large rally was held in Kakching, organized by local civil society groups, passing through major areas of the district before reaching Bishnupur.
The protests have been further fueled by COCOMI’s ultimatum, which set a five-day deadline for the state government to replace the Security Advisor and DGP. With that deadline having passed, the public’s frustration has boiled over into mass demonstrations.
In light of the unrest, the Manipur government had pre-emptively declared September 9th and 10th as holidays. Despite this, protests continue to grow, with demonstrators vowing to remain in front of the Governor’s residence until their demands are met.
The situation remains tense as security forces struggle to control the growing crowds.
