Manipur Crisis: Displaced Meitei Community Attempts Return Home Amid Ongoing Sangai Festival

Internally displaced people gather on a road in Imphal

In Imphal and Guwahati, members of the Meitei community who have been residing in relief camps for more than two years attempted to return to their homes in villages near the foothills surrounding Imphal valley, according to officials.

Some individuals announced plans to march toward areas such as Churachandpur in southern Manipur and Moreh along the Myanmar border. These regions, predominantly populated by Kuki villages, have remained inaccessible to the Meitei community, who traditionally inhabit central Manipur's valley area.

The internally displaced persons justified their decision to return home by pointing to Governor AK Bhalla's inauguration of the grand winter Sangai Festival, which proceeded despite thousands still living in displacement camps.

They argued that the celebration of the festival indicated peace had been restored, and therefore they should be permitted to return to their homes. However, police prevented their movement toward villages on the outskirts of the central valley due to security concerns in neighboring districts, officials reported.

Security forces were compelled to employ mild force to disperse the assembled crowds.

Previously, members of COCOMI, an umbrella organization representing Meitei civil society groups, staged protests across several locations in Imphal. They expressed that holding the festival while thousands remain homeless was inappropriate.

Nevertheless, a portion of the population has welcomed the festival despite the challenging circumstances, hoping the event will generate much-needed economic activity.

Tension briefly escalated at Khurai Lamlong when police deployed tear gas and protesters responded by throwing stones.