Manipur erupts in violence: CM’s ancestral home, Minister's residences torched

Manipur descended into chaos as violent protests erupted after the recovery of six bodies in Jiribam district. Demonstrators set fire to the homes of multiple state ministers and MLAs on Saturday night, prompting authorities to impose indefinite curfews in five districts and suspend internet services across several regions to prevent the spread of unrest.

The bodies recovered included two women and a child who had been missing since Monday, with their remains found in the Barak River on Saturday. Earlier, three more bodies—one woman and two children—were found on Friday night. These discoveries have intensified anger in the state, already reeling from months of ethnic violence. Security forces, including Assam Rifles personnel and local police, used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protestors attempting to storm Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s ancestral home in Heingang, Imphal.

Several political leaders’ residences were targeted during the violence. The homes of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam, BJP MLAs Y Radheshyam and Paonam Brojen, and Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar were burned. The properties of BJP MLA RK Imo Singh, Municipal Administration Minister Y Khemchand, and Consumer Affairs Minister L Susindro Singh were also attacked. Government offices and vehicles were vandalized as the unrest spread across the state capital.

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent civil society group, issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding a military operation to disarm armed groups in the hill districts. They also called for repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). In response, the state expanded AFSPA enforcement to six additional police station areas. However, the situation remains volatile, with ongoing clashes reported in several districts.

The current wave of violence stems from ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which have claimed over 220 lives and displaced tens of thousands since May. While the state government has deployed additional security forces, the situation has been exacerbated by targeted attacks on political representatives and ongoing calls for justice from civil society groups.