Thousands of residents took to the streets across five valley districts of Manipur on Friday evening, staging a unique sound protest to express deep frustration over ongoing killings, the prolonged ethnic conflict, and the government's perceived inability to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
Utensils banged and horns honked across Imphal
In various localities throughout Imphal, protesters expressed their grievances by banging utensils, striking electric poles with hammers, and continuously honking vehicle horns between 7.30 pm and 8 pm. The demonstration aimed to draw immediate attention to the suffering of the local population and demand a lasting resolution to the ongoing ethnic conflict. Some demonstrators also brought traditional drums to the streets, beating them loudly as part of the coordinated protest.
March towards Kangla and police interception
Participants voiced that leaders had repeatedly ignored their appeals and demands, leaving them with no choice but to respond to the demonstration call. The crowds marched toward Kangla, the historic political and cultural center of the erstwhile Manipur kingdom located just meters away from the Raj Bhavan and the chief minister secretariat. Security personnel intercepted multiple groups of protesters at the Palace Compound, Moirangkhom, and Keisampat junctions to halt their progression.
Tear gas deployed near Raj Bhavan
Despite heavy security deployment, hundreds of demonstrators managed to reach the entrance of the Kangla fort complex, though they were barred from entering the premises. Police subsequently fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowds gathered near the Raj Bhavan, and additional barricades were erected in the area after 8 pm. Authorities confirmed that no injuries or violent incidents were reported during the entire duration of the protest.
Civil society organization called the demonstration
The demonstration followed a formal call issued by the Federation of Haomee, a prominent civil society organization. The group had urged the public to create noise between 7.30 pm and 8 pm to manifest their outrage over the protracted ethnic strife and the administration failure to bring back peace to the state.
