Imphal: Manipur – that witnessed over two years of ethnic strife – is on the boil yet again over the holding of the Sangai Festival. This is the state’s biggest tourism festival that draws people, not only from the region, but across the country.
The festival started on Friday after a two-year hiatus. However, this was met with resistance from a section of people displaced by the conflict and civil society organisations based in the Manipur valley, who have sought the resettlement of displaced persons, free movement and restoration of “peace and normalcy first”.
On Thursday, a protest rally led by civil society organisation Coordinated Committee on Manipur’s Integrity or COCOMI was stopped by security personnel, resulting in a scuffle during which police had to resort to baton charge and teargas, leaving three protesters injured.
The Manipur Police said that the movement of the protesters was in violation of prohibitory orders issued by the district magistrate, Imphal East. It has been said in a statement that Themthing Ngashangva, IGP (Zone-I) was supervising the situation when a protester allegedly assaulted him.
The crowd then allegedly moved towards the Royal Palace (Konung) premises, where the house guards let them in.
“Security personnel made repeated attempts to stop and peacefully disperse the protesters. Ngashangva, IPS, was on the scene supervising the situation. Police teams, including women personnel, repeatedly tried to stop and disperse the group. However, the mob tur
ned violent, throwing water bottles and placards at the police. A woman protester assaulted the IGP and used derogatory racial slurs (Ngashangva is from the state’s Naga community) while he was performing his duty. The mob later moved toward the Palace premises, where house guards of the Hon’ble MP Leishemba Sanajaoba allowed them inside, hindering police efforts. The IGP approached the gate to question the action of the house guards. He did not enter the premises of the palace,” the statement said.
Sanajaoba, a Rajya Sabha MP, is the grandson of Maharaja Bodhchandra, Manipur’s last ruler, He is now the titular king of Manipur.
Sanajaoba has now alleged that Ngashangva “barged” into his residential compound and threatened his security personnel. The personal assistant to the MP has written to the Governor complaining about Ngashangva and seeking his suspension.
The IPS officer allegedly “threatened the security personnel of the MP that he will file an FIR against them by charging that the Hon’ble MP is responsible for organising a rally of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) by sheltering them and giving them refuge. He also shouted at and threatened the security personnel of the Hon’ble MP,” it has been mentioned in the letter.
“The residential compound of the Hon’ble MP is also the Royal Palace (Konung) of the state of Manipur, which is considered a holy place,” it said.
The police said that a criminal case has been registered for offences including assault on a public servant, obstruction of duty, breaching security barricades, use of racial slurs, and unauthorised movement toward a protected premises, and that they are trying to identify the protester who allegedly assaulted Ngashangva.
“The Manipur Police reiterates that personnel on duty acted with restraint and professionalism, and that only the minimum force necessary was used to restore order,” the police said.