Manipur DGP visits Kangpokpi, Senapati as fresh protests, highway blockade and census opposition intensify

Guwahati: Manipur Director General of Police Mukesh Singh made his first visit to Kangpokpi and Senapati districts after assuming charge terming it as an outreach visit.

Singh on Sunday interacted with civil society groups and district police officials to assess the prevailing law and order situation. Singh assumed the charge of DGP on June 1.

Speaking to the press during the visit, Singh said he had interacted with civil society groups and district police officials to assess the prevailing law and order situation.


Singh said the police force would act fairly and impartially in all matters. "The police are supposed to be fair and my instruction to everyone is to deal with any case in an impartial way. Our actions will be neutral, and any violation of law will be dealt with as per legal procedure."

The DGP urged people from different communities to reach out to one another and work towards peaceful coexistence.

Vehicular movement along National Highway-202 has been suspended indefinitely following a call by the student body Katho Katamnao Long (KKL) on Monday.

In a statement, KKL said the decision to enforce an indefinite restriction was taken in protest against the alleged use of excessive force on its president and 22 Tangkhul Naga women by security personnel at Finch Corner and Shokvao in Ukhrul district on Sunday.

The student organisation claimed that several women sustained grievous injuries during the incident and said the agitation would continue until further notice. The organisation appealed to the public and transport operators to cooperate with the movement and urged the authorities to address the issue at the earliest.

On Sunday there was a standoff at New Heaven in Ukhrul district on Sunday where Naga women were protesting the establishment of a temporary Assam Rifles outpost in the area.

The organisations alleged that the establishment of the outpost violated provisions of the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act, 1956, and undermined the authority of the local administration.

The organisation claimed Sunday’s protest, local women confronted Assam Rifles personnel stationed at the outpost, leading to a standoff during which tear gas shells were allegedly fired to disperse the gathering.

Manipur DGP Visits Kangpokpi, Senapati as Fresh Protests, Highway Blockade and Census Opposition Intensify

A rally demanding the opposing of the proposed Census exercise in Manipur saw participation of 14 civil society organisations (CSOs), including several student and women organisations, in Imphal on Monday.

The rally started from Tiddim Ground along Airport Road and proceeded through various parts of Imphal before concluding at Thou Ground, Thangmeiband.

Addressing the gathering United Committee Manipur (UCM) President Shanta Nahakpam said that what is the necessity of conducting a fair and credible Census while thousands of people affected by the ongoing ethnic conflict continue to live in relief camps across the State.

He said, “How far will the Census exercise be successful when thousands of people are staying in relief camps? The concerns of conflict-affected communities must be addressed before the exercise is undertaken. The 14 CSOs, along with several other organisations, have already submitted representations to the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking postponement of the Census exercise in Manipur,” he added.

The Joint Tribes Council, Manipur (JTCM) said Chunjanglung Panmei of Pongringlong was killed by militants. The body was recovered on Monday.

JTCM stated it mourns the brutal, senseless, and cowardly killing of our innocent brother, Chunjanglung Panmei.

JTCM said that Panmei went out at dawn, not to fight, not to threaten anyone, but simply to gather firewood for his family. In return, he was met with bullets. “His only crime was being a Naga on his own ancestral land. We are shattered. We are anguished. And we are outraged beyond measure”.