Eight women hurt in SF crackdown near Raj Bhavan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 25 2025: At least eight women suffered injuries of varying degrees in brutal crackdown by security forces on a mainly-women demonstrators who tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan on Sunday, demanding an apology from the Governor and the resignation of the chief secretary, the security advisor and the Director General of Police (DGP) in connection with the May 20 Gwaltabi incident wherein the Indian army directed a group of Ukhrul-bound journalists to cover the Shirui Lily Festival conceal "Manipur" on the Manipur State Transport (MST) bus they were travelling on.

Eight women hurt in SF crackdown near Raj Bhavan

On Saturday, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) had issued a clarion call for staging protest at the Governor's Bungalow on Sunday in pursuance of the demand that the Governor tender apology on the Gwaltabi incident as well as resignations of the CS, security advisor and DGP on moral ground.

On Sunday, the protestors attempted to march to the Governor's Bungalow but were intercepted by security forces midway.

The forces then used stun bombs to disperse the crowd, resulting in eight protestors getting injured during the chaos.

Of the eight injured, seven were taken to RIMS hospital and one to Raj Medicity.

The seven admitted to RIMS are Nandeibam Santi (72) of Khurai Heikrumakhong, Kh Rajeshwori (64) of Lalambung, K Sabitri Devi (60) of Taobungkhok, Abe Devi (58) of Patsoi, Takhelchangbam Gyaneshori (58) of Khongman Mangjin Mamang, Thokchom Geeta (44) of Singjamei Mathak Thokchom Leikai, and Ningthoukhongjam Priya (42) of Wangkhei Angom Leikai.

Gyaneshori was hit by a stun grenade splinters and suffered a broken heel (right).

Meanwhile, Sanasam Malemnganbi (22) of Pishumthong Oinam Leirak is undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity.

Around 1pm Sunday, a large number of protestors trooped out from Khwairamband Keithel en-route to the Raj Bhavan, shouting slogans calling for the Governor to apologise, and for the CS, security advisor and DGP to resign.

The protest was also participated by COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba and other Committee members.

Though the protestors were intercepted by security forces near the Congress Bhawan, BT Road they breached the security barricades and tried to proceed towards the Governor's residence.

The protestors were again stopped by security forces near the Kangla western gate traffic point, resulting in an intense stand-off.

Eight women hurt in SF crackdown near Raj Bhavan

As the protestors attempted to push through, the security forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel stood their ground.

With the protestors continuing to try to push through, Imphal West superintendent of police Shivakanta used a megaphone to warn the protesters to retreat.

However, the protestors refused and made another attempt to move towards the Governor's Bungalow.

As the protestors reached the footbridge along the Kanglapat road, security forces initially unleashed two stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

The location where the stun grenades were exploded was close to the Johnstone Higher Secondary School, one of the examination centres for the preliminary examination of UPSC-CSE, held on Sunday.

The incident occurred one hour before conduct of the second session of the examination.

Security forces managed to drive back the protestors till BT Park, where the protestors squatted to continue the protest.

Around 4.30pm, after the second session of the preliminary examination of UPSC-CSE came to an end, the security forces fired stun grenades to disperse the protestors present near BT Park.

Security forces also intercepted protestors heading in from Kwakeithel side, at Keishampat traffic island and prevented them from moving forward.

In Imphal East, protestors coming along Wangkhei Kongba road were stopped by security forces at the traffic island near the Palace Gate and prevented from proceeding further.

One protester told reporters, "The Governor continues to disregard the sentiments of the people by his silence.

He and his administration has completely humiliated the state s historical and cultural legacy all the while administering the state.

The enquiry commission set up by the government to probe the incident is not enough and does not mention anything about penalising those who were involved".

The protest follows outrage over directive to remove "Manipur" from Manipur State Transport bus with journalists on board on May 20 en route to the Shirui Festival in Ukhrul district.

COCOMI announced statewide agitation and demanded the resignation of the Chief Secretary, DGP, and Security Advisor.

The Manipur government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the allegations that security personnel forced to cover the state's name on a bus taking journalists to the Shirui Lily festival.

It was alleged that security forces had stopped the staterun bus, on which journalists were being taken by the government to cover the tourism festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday, and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper.

The government formed a two-member inquiry committee, and said that it will "examine facts and circumstances involving security personnel and Manipur State Road Transport Bus carrying media persons to cover the Manipur Shirui festival on May 20 near Gwaltabi checkpost", according to an order issued by the Home Department.

Meanwhile, People of Chanam Sandrok in Keirao AC staged a sit-in protest on Sunday, strongly condemning the Gwaltabi incident and shouted slogans demanding the Governor to apologise, while also calling for the resignation of the CS, security advisor and DGP.

Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK) also staged a sit-in protest at the gate of Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound on Sunday, condemning the Gwaltabi incident.

During the sit-in, the protestors shouted slogans like "Governor of Manipur must apologise", "Manipur cannot be erased", "We condemn India Government's divide-and-rule policy", and "We want peace".

On the other hand, under the aegis of All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA), Committee on Human Right (COHR) and Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), local clubs and Meira Paibi groups under the aegis of All Thoubal District United Clubs' Organisation (ATDUCO) and Khunai Kanba Meira Paibi Lup (KHUKAMPAL) organised a human chain protest in their respect areas on Sunday.

During the protest, the protestors shouted slogans like "Manipur cannot be erased", "Condemn India's Policy to Obliterate Manipur" .