IMPHAL — Residents of several villages in Manipur have launched a demonstration urging authorities not to withdraw central forces stationed in Uyok Hills, a region that has witnessed recent clashes between militants and security personnel.
Villagers from Thamnapokpi, Sanasabi, and Yaingangpokpi, located near Saibol in Imphal East district, have been staging a sit-in protest at the foothills of Uyok Hills since Monday evening. Demonstrators fear that the removal of central forces, such as the BSF and CRPF, from the volatile region could leave them vulnerable to renewed attacks by armed miscreants.
“We heard unconfirmed reports that central forces stationed at Uyok Hills will be moved. So, we are camping here to plead with CRPF and BSF not to succumb to the pressure from the Kuki groups,” said Mangi Leima, one of the protestors. She expressed concern that withdrawing the forces could embolden armed groups to resume attacks on low-lying villages.
Tensions in the region escalated after gunfights broke out last month between suspected tribal militants and security forces. Armed men reportedly fired from positions near Saibol village, targeting Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi, injuring four people, including a policeman. In response, central forces moved into Saibol, dismantling illegal bunkers set up by militants.
However, pressure to remove the forces has been mounting. On January 3, the Superintendent of Police in Kangpokpi district was injured during a mob attack on his office over alleged failure to withdraw forces from Saibol. The incident followed protests by Kuki organizations against a lathi charge on women demonstrators in Saibol on December 31.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 2023, resulting in over 250 deaths and displacing thousands. Villagers argue that the presence of central forces is crucial to maintaining peace and preventing further violence in the region.
As tensions remain high, the demonstrators have vowed to continue their sit-in until they receive assurances that the forces will not be withdrawn. Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement addressing the villagers’ concerns.
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