Security forces in Imphal foil IDPs’ attempt to return home

Tensions flared in Imphal East district on Monday after security forces foiled yet another attempt by internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their abandoned villages, resulting in clashes that left at least four persons injured and damaged 10 security vehicles.
The incident unfolded around 8:30 a.m. when hundreds of IDPs from relief camps at Sajiwa and Swombung gathered and attempted to march towards their villages—Ekou, Yengkhuman, Dolaithabi, and Sadu Yengkhuman. These villages, lying adjacent to Kangpokpi district, were torched or vandalized during the initial days of the ethnic clashes that erupted on May 3, 2023. Since then, the displaced villagers have been sheltering in government-run relief camps.
The IDPs advanced as far as Dolaithabi Dam without obstruction, with security personnel keeping a close watch. However, when they tried to proceed further, barricades were placed by the forces citing security concerns. This triggered tensions among the displaced villagers, who insisted they should be allowed to return if peace and normalcy had indeed been restored in the state. District officials, including the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Imphal East, arrived at the site to pacify the crowd. Despite appeals, the IDPs remained adamant and breached the barricades, leading to a scuffle. Security forces resorted to baton-charge, tear gas shells, and mock bombs to disperse the crowd. At least four IDPs sustained injuries requiring immediate medical attention.
A video showing security personnel thrashing and punching a male IDP went viral on social media, further inflaming sentiments. In retaliation, the agitated IDPs attacked police and security vehicles, damaging as many as 10. Security forces fired several rounds of bullets in the air as the situation grew volatile. The protesting IDPs argued that conditions in the relief camps had become unbearable and demanded safe return to their homes. “We want to go back. Living in the camp with uncertainty is no longer tolerable,” one IDP lamented. They accused the state administration of attempting to project normalcy by hosting the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival, despite unresolved displacement issues.
“If peace has returned, why should we remain in the relief camp? We should be allowed to go back to our homes. We love our homes. We want to stay at home,” another IDP said. This was not the first such attempt. Recently, IDPs from Churachandpur district, currently housed in Bishnupur relief camps, also tried to return to their villages but were stopped by security forces. Civil society groups, particularly the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), have strongly opposed the hosting of the 10-day tourism festival, which commenced on November 21, arguing that no celebration should take place without resolving the two-and-a-half-year-old crisis and ensuring the safe return of displaced persons.
The latest confrontation underscores the growing frustration among IDPs and the challenges facing authorities in balancing security concerns with humanitarian demands.