Tension flared in Imphal on Thursday when police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters attempting to force their way into the Sangai Festival 2025 venue.
The demonstrators, mobilised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), gathered outside Hapta Kangjeibung to enforce their call to boycott the state-backed cultural event.
Chanting slogans like “We boycott Sangai Festival” and “Displaced lives matter,” the protesters marched toward the venue, prompting security forces to intervene. Police used tear gas to prevent the crowd from breaching the gates and to restore order around the festival grounds.
Manipur, currently under President’s Rule since February, has been witnessing renewed friction between the A.K. Bhalla–led administration and civil society groups. The Sangai Festival — set to begin on November 21 — has become the latest flashpoint, with organisations representing internally displaced people urging the public to oppose what they describe as an attempt to project a false sense of normalcy.
A dawn-to-dusk shutdown is being observed across the valley, as several groups rally behind the boycott call. Despite the growing protests, the Governor-led administration has appealed to citizens to support the festival, which traditionally runs from November 21 to 30 and showcases Manipur’s cultural heritage, tourism, and arts.
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