Security forces dispersed a massive nighttime demonstration in Manipur's Kakching district after a peaceful torchlight rally demanding an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) escalated into chaos near the Keirak Dam area on Sunday night.
Protesters Insist on NRC Before National Census
The agitation saw participation from hundreds of local residents belonging to Wabagai, Hiyanglam, and surrounding villages. Marching with flaming torches across a stretch of nearly three kilometres, the demonstrators chanted slogans such as "No NRC, No Census" to press their demands before the administration. According to the organizers of the march, the state government must prioritize the rehabilitation and resettlement of families displaced by ongoing violence before launching any statewide Census operations.
Confrontation at Keirak Dam and Police Action
The torchlight procession was advancing towards the Kakching district headquarters when police personnel established barricades to halt their movement in the Keirak Dam area. Officials instructed the gathering to turn back to maintain public order. Tensions flared rapidly after certain individuals within the crowd allegedly pelted stones at the security forces. To control the escalating situation and disperse the crowd, security personnel fired multiple rounds of tear gas shells, leaving several protesters with minor injuries during the commotion.
Background of Ethnic Conflict in Manipur
The confrontation occurs against the backdrop of deep rooted ethnic unrest that has gripped Manipur since May 2023. Clashes between the Meitei community inhabiting the Imphal Valley and the Kuki community based in the surrounding hill districts have severely disrupted peace in the region. The conflict has claimed more than 260 lives and displaced thousands of citizens across the state, creating widespread demand for demographic verification through an updated NRC.
