Governor takes chopper ride to reach Raj Bhavan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 26 2025: As mass protests spearheaded by COCOMI demanding an apology from the Governor over the May 20 Gwaltabi incident and resignation of three top officials of the state entered the second day on Monday, Governor AK Bhalla was forced to take a helicopter from the Imphal airport to reach Raj Bhavan in view of the unrest along the Tiddim road.

Governor AK Bhalla returned to Imphal from New Delhi on Monday but had to be airlifted from Imphal airport to Kangla Fort as large numbers of protestors lined up along Tiddim road from Keishampat till the airport.

Governor takes chopper ride to reach Raj Bhavan

Anticipating the Governor's return on Monday, large numbers of protestors including students of many schools formed human chains along the Tiddim road shortly after noon.

Holding placards some of which read as 'Governor must tender apology to the people of Manipur', 'Apologise to Manipur or leave', 'President's Rule must stop insulting the identity of Manipur', 'Resign security advisor, DGP, chief secretary' and 'GOI must stop attempt to obliterate Manipur', large numbers of protestors waited for the Governor along the Tiddim road.

As protestors waited for the Governor shouting slogans on the roadsides, large numbers of security personnel including women personnel were deployed and lined up along the road.

In view of the evolving tense situation, barricades were erected at several junctions to prevent the protestors from blocking the road.

Amidst the protest, a brief scuffle broke out between security personnel and protestors at Kwakeithel Mayaikoibi with the former resorting to unleashing tear gas shells to control the situation.

Nevertheless, the protestors holding placards and raising slogans continued to wait for the Governor on the roadsides.

Governor takes chopper ride to reach Raj Bhavan

With no sign of the Governor returning through the road till 2 pm and upon learning that the Governor had been airlifted from the airport to Kangla Fort by a helicopter, protestors started dispersing.

After confirming return of the Governor and reaching Raj Bhavan, volunteers of COCOMI women front tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan from Kwakeithel area but police prevented them and the protest culminated. Large numbers of Meira Paibis of Keishampat Thiyam Leikai also waited for return of the Governor at Keishampat junction by forming human chain but the protest culminated after learning return of the Governor via aerial route instead of road route.

As pre-emptive measures in view of growing restlessness among the protesters Ajay Bhalla took the chopper ride to reach Raj Bhavan, which is about 6km away from the airport and 300 metres from Kangla Fort.

The demonstration is part of a wider state-wide agitation led by COCOMI to demand the Governor's apology and removal of chief secretary PK Singh, security advisor Kuldiep Singh, and director general of police Rajiv Singh.

The agitation follows an incident on May 20, when a Manipur State Transport bus ferrying journalists to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily Festival was stopped by central security personnel and ordered to remove the word "Manipur" from its signage, a move widely seen as an affront to the state's identity.

Upon learning of Bhalla's return on Monday, protesters formed a human chain demonstration along the route with banners that asked the Governor to apologise or step down.

Security forces, however, prevented protesters from taking out a rally in Imphal West district and fired tear gas shells to disperse them.

Protesters also attempted to burn an effigy of the Governor at Kwakeithel Bazar but were stopped by security personnel.

A protester said Bhalla should have met the public.

"We will continue various forms of agitation until he apologises to the people," he said.

Kuldiep Singh, who was brought in as the state's security adviser as part of efforts to tackle the protracted ethnic violence in Manipur, defended the May 20 directive, saying it was a precautionary measure to avoid incidents like the one in Kangpokpi, where suspected Kuki-Zo militants attacked a bus.

The ethnic violence in the state has since May 2023 claimed at least 260 lives and displaced around 60,000 .

Meanwhile, a seven-member COCOMI team departed for New Delhi on Monday to hold a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday to address unresolved political and security issues stemming from the ongoing Manipur crisis.

The delegation is led by committee convenor Kh Athouba and includes members Yengkokpam Dhiren Meetei, L Jadumani Singh, Thiyam Bharat Singh, Laikhuram Jayenta Singh, Phijam Shyamchand Singh, and Yumkhaibam Surjitkumar.

Before their departure, Athouba told reporters, "We had delayed pursuit of our objectives with the Centre due to Operation Sindoor.

However, with the successful conclusion of the operation on the western front of the country, we are seeking the Centre's measures in dealing with narco-terrorists on the eastern front of the country" .

"At a critical time, the Gwaltabi incident happened in which the state's historical and cultural legacy was severely hit.

We will raise the issues related to the Gwaltabi incident and other agenda concerning the Manipur crisis," he added.

Notably, COCOMI launched state wide mass protests from Sunday onwards demanding apology from the Governor over the May 20 Gwaltabi incident of erasing 'Manipur' from the Manipur State Transport bus carrying media persons to Ukhrul district to cover Shirui Lily festival.

COCOMI also demanded resignation of chief secretary, DGP and security advisor for their role in the incident.

Meanwhile, under the aegis of COCOMI, torch rallies were taken out from various localities in Singjamei area on Monday evening but were made to turn back from Thumbuthong by security forces.

People also formed a human chain with torches in Khagempalli Panthak and Pankha areas.

A large number of central forces, including Assam Rifles and Rapid Action Force personnel, were deployed along the Tiddim Road from Imphal airport to the Raj Bhavan.

Security has also been beefed up at several points, including Moirangkhom in Imphal West district and Konung Mamang in Imphal East district.

COCOMI women wing convenor RK Tharaksana told reporters, "The governor avoided travelling by road and meeting the people.

This clearly shows that he has made a mistake.

We will not stop our protests now.

He has poured oil into the fire with his action today.

We had not planned any violent protest.

We raised slogans during our demonstration" .