The Sangai Tourism Festival opens in Imphal amid protests, clashes and civil unrest, with injured police personnel, boycott calls from COCOMI, and rising tensions among internally displaced persons demanding rehabilitation before festivities.
The 10-day Sangai Tourism Festival, Manipur’s most prominent cultural and tourism showcase, opened on Friday at Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal under an unprecedented atmosphere of protests, clashes and deepening social anxiety. What is normally celebrated as a vibrant display of Manipur’s cultural heritage turned into a muted event overshadowed by tensions across the valley districts.
A police official confirmed that at least two police officers, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), sustained injuries during a clash between security forces and demonstrators in Imphal East district. The confrontation broke out when protestors—comprising civil society groups, youths, and a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs)—marched toward the festival venue, accusing the government of prioritising festivities over humanitarian responsibilities.
Security forces immediately intervened to stop the advancing crowd. Protestors reportedly hurled stones, prompting the forces to fire several rounds of tear gas shells. The clash reflects the raw anger and sense of abandonment felt by thousands still living in relief camps since the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023.
The festival was inaugurated in an unusually low-key ceremony by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. In contrast to earlier years, where thousands thronged the venue, Friday’s opening saw sparse attendance. Eyewitnesses said the majority of those present were government employees, festival staff and security personnel rather than general visitors. Most stalls remained closed, and only a few government-run stalls functioned partially, underlining the pervasive unease.
Boycott Calls and Growing Frustration Among Civil Groups
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a powerful umbrella organisation of Meitei civil society groups, had earlier declared a cease-work strike and called for the boycott of the festival. The organisation urged people across the valley to hold protests against the government’s decision to proceed with the festival while thousands have yet to return home due to ongoing ethnic divisions.
COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba had strongly criticised the government’s insistence on holding the event, saying the festival was “not meant for the people, but for some individuals’ vested interest who can manage financial benefit.” According to him, holding an extravagant tourism festival at a time when people are living in camps, deprived of livelihood and security, sends the wrong message.
The Sangai Festival had been suspended for two consecutive years—2023 and 2024—due to ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. For many, restarting the festival without first addressing the underlying conflict appears insensitive and politically motivated.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), valley-based groups and large sections of IDPs have collectively insisted that the government must prioritise restoring peace, ensuring rehabilitation and facilitating the return of displaced individuals before attempting to portray the state as “returning to normal.”
IDP March Sparks Fresh Security Crackdown
On Friday evening, hundreds of violence-hit IDPs from relief camps in Bishnupur district attempted to march toward their original villages in neighbouring Churachandpur district. These areas had been abandoned after the 2023 ethnic violence.
The security forces blocked their movement near Phougakchao Ikhai, a sensitive point just a few kilometres from Churachandpur. Barricades, barbed wire and parked security vehicles were placed across the road to prevent further escalation. Tear gas rounds were fired when the IDPs refused to disperse, demanding that they be allowed to return to their ancestral homes.
The IDPs argued that organising a tourism festival without restoring displaced families to their villages was an insult to their suffering. Many expressed frustration at living in relief camps for nearly 18 months without permanent resettlement.
Government Appeals for Support, Emphasises Economic Revival
Despite strong opposition, the Manipur government has defended its decision to host the festival. On November 18, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel issued a public appeal urging citizens—especially IDPs—to extend cooperation for the success of the festival.
According to the government, the Sangai Festival is not merely a cultural celebration but a symbol of unity, economic revival and a major opportunity to promote tourism and local entrepreneurship. Goel emphasised that the event is essential for generating market linkages for artisans, farmers and small business owners whose income sources were severely disrupted during the conflict.
The Chief Secretary highlighted that the government is simultaneously prioritising the rehabilitation of IDPs. He revealed that Rs 18 crore is being spent monthly on relief operations, including monetary assistance and the management of relief camps.
Under the Government of India’s Special Relief Package, Rs 523 crore has been allocated, with Rs 180 crore earmarked for house restoration for displaced families and Rs 250 crore set aside for rebuilding essential public assets such as schools, water supply systems, health centres and community halls.
Goel reiterated that the restoration of peace and the revival of the economy must move forward simultaneously, arguing that the festival embodies hope and collective progress.
Senior Leaders, Empty Stalls and the Reality on the Ground
Former Minister and current BJP MLAs Bishwajit Singh and Basanta Kumar Singh were among the few political figures present at the venue on Friday. Yet their presence did little to mask the subdued atmosphere. Large sections of the public chose to stay away, either in solidarity with the boycotters or out of security concerns.
The contrast with earlier years, when the Sangai Festival attracted significant national and international attention, was stark. The near-empty stalls and low turnout revealed a population deeply divided and emotionally exhausted from prolonged violence.
Arunachal Pradesh CM Calls for Strong Action Against Corruption
In a separate major development in the Northeast, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu delivered a strong anti-corruption message during the 14th General Conference of the Nyishi Elite Society (NES) at Koloriang on Friday.
The Chief Minister expressed deep concern over alleged large-scale irregularities in land compensation for the Lada–Sarli stretch of the Frontier Highway. Preliminary findings indicated “massive misuse” of compensation funds.
Khandu warned that the government could not allow “a few individuals” to derail transformative development projects funded by taxpayers. He appealed to NES and other community-based organisations to spearhead a powerful movement against corruption, electoral malpractice and the growing money culture in the state.
He also urged CBOs, NGOs and student bodies to address key issues including illegal immigration, youth unemployment, drug abuse and environmental degradation, stressing the need for responsible leadership across Arunachal Pradesh’s 26 tribes and 100-plus sub-tribes.
The simultaneous unfolding of unrest in Manipur and anti-corruption warnings in Arunachal Pradesh highlights the complex socio-political landscape of the Northeast. As the Sangai Tourism Festival continues under tight security and widespread disapproval, questions remain about whether the state can truly move forward without first addressing the suffering of thousands still displaced from their homes.
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