Imphal : Tension gripped Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Thursday as protests broke out in the Tuibong area against the formation of the newly installed “popular government”, prompting heavy deployment of security forces to prevent further escalation.

According to local sources, the unrest began early in the day, fuelled by anger over Kuki MLAs extending support to the popular government. Demonstrators accused the elected representatives of acting against community sentiment, particularly amid ongoing demands for a separate administrative arrangement.

Protesters took a firm stand, declaring that they would not accept or support the popular government unless their demand for separate administration was addressed. Tensions escalated further after the government was formed in the presence of Kuki MLAs, including Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, and legislators L.M. Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate. The move was widely viewed by protesters as a betrayal of the community’s aspirations.

The agitation took a dramatic turn when two protesters allegedly attempted self-immolation as a form of protest. Police personnel intervened in time and prevented the incident from turning fatal, officials said.

By evening, the situation worsened, with sporadic scuffles reported around 6 pm despite the presence of a large number of security personnel in the area. While authorities managed to avert major casualties, several protesters sustained injuries during the clashes, sources said.

As of the latest reports, the situation in Tuibong and surrounding areas remained tense, with security forces maintaining a strong presence and continuing efforts to restore complete control and prevent further violence.

Earlier, sections of the Kuki community had reportedly warned Kuki MLAs against supporting the popular government if it was formed. Thursday’s developments underscore the deepening political and social fault lines in Churachandpur, adding to concerns over stability in an already fragile security environment in the state.

 Clashes between security forces and a mob in Manipur’s Tuibong area continued for nearly nine hours, from around 6 pm on Thursday till approximately 3 am on Friday, prompting authorities to impose a total shutdown in the affected areas.

A protest against the swearing-in of Manipur’s new Deputy Chief Ministers, Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho, turned violent on Thursday as security forces clashed with a mob in Churachandpur district.

The unrest reportedly began in the Tuibong Main Market area, where hundreds of young protesters attempted to push security forces back to their barracks. The clash erupted near the Tuibong Forest Gate area, where a mob allegedly began pelting stones at security personnel deployed in the region.

The intensity of the stone-pelting forced security forces to initially retreat from their positions. Later, security forces regrouped and began using teargas shells in an attempt to disperse the mob. While the shelling temporarily scattered the protesters, they later regrouped and launched repeated attacks on the forces, escalating the confrontation.

Throughout the night, teargas shelling continued intermittently as the mob regrouped several times after dispersal. At around 11:00 pm, security personnel resorted to a lathi charge to push back the mob. However, the situation remained volatile as the mob once again regrouped and resumed attacks on the forces.

The youngsters’ anger and resentment overflowed as they were taken to believe that three Kuki Zomi MLAs are joining the Manipur Government, with Nemcha having been sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, and another two, LM Khaute and Ngursanglur, due to be sworn in.

Assam Rifles officials, including the Commander of the 27 Sectors, were deployed to calm the situation, but initial attempts yielded little success. Eventually, security forces temporarily retreated but maintained positions, while the protesters pressed forward.