At least eight people, including several women, were injured in Imphal on Sunday after police fired tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse protesters marching towards the Raj Bhavan. The agitation was sparked by outrage over the alleged removal of the word “Manipur” from a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus operating during the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul.
The protest, led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), began at Khwairamband Keithel — Imphal’s bustling women’s market — in response to the government’s silence on the incident. Hundreds of protesters attempted to march towards the Raj Bhavan via BT Road, but were intercepted by security forces near Kangla Western Gate, roughly 150 metres from the governor’s residence.
Despite heavy deployment of security personnel, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), multiple groups from Imphal East and West converged at different points in the city and attempted to reach the Raj Bhavan. Protesters chanted slogans demanding justice and accountability, as clashes broke out when forces used crowd-control measures to disperse them.
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals and treated for minor injuries.
The incident that triggered the unrest occurred on May 20, when a bus carrying journalists and state information officials to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily Festival was allegedly stopped at Gwaltabi in Imphal East by security personnel. According to reports, the personnel ordered the removal of the “Manipur State Transport” signage from the bus — a move that has since been condemned as an affront to the state’s identity and dignity.
COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba strongly criticized the police response, calling the use of mock bombs and tear gas on peaceful protesters — especially women — “unwarranted and deeply concerning.” The group also accused the governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, of failing to respect public sentiment and demanded a formal apology.
“The governor continues to disregard the sentiments of the people by his silence. His administration has humiliated the state’s cultural and historical identity,” said one protester.
In a statement issued earlier, COCOMI had given a 48-hour deadline to the Governor to issue a public apology. With that deadline expired and no response received, the group has announced a statewide agitation. It is also demanding the resignation of the chief secretary, the director general of police (DGP), and the security advisor, citing their failure to take appropriate action.
“The inquiry commission set up by the government is inadequate and does not mention any penal action against those involved,” said Athouba. He vowed that protests will continue under the ongoing “statewide mass agitation” until all demands — including accountability for Sunday’s violence — are met.
Sources By Agencies