Protester Killed in Manipur Police Firing, Sparking Outrage in Manipur and Assam
GUWAHATI: The Manipur government on Monday suspended a retired Army officer, now a senior police official, following a fatal police firing in Jiribam. The incident occurred late Sunday when commandos led by SSP (Combat) Nectar Sanjenbam, a decorated Kirti Chakra awardee, opened fire on a protesting mob. The firing claimed the life of 23-year-old protester Khundrakpam Athouba Singh and injured another protester, Keisam Benson, who is undergoing treatment in Silchar, Assam.
The protesters had gathered in response to the alleged abduction and murder of three Meitei women and three children, missing since November 11. The tragedy intensified unrest in Meitei-majority areas of Manipur and Silchar in Assam’s Cachar district. These regions have already been on edge following the deaths of 10 suspected Hmar militants in a CRPF operation in Jiribam last week.
In response to the unrest, the Manipur government extended internet restrictions in seven districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur — for two more days. An indefinite curfew also remains in place across the valley districts following recent incidents of arson targeting the homes of MLAs.
The state government has instituted an inquiry, led by IGP (Intelligence) K. Kabib, into the Jiribam firing incident. SSP Nectar Sanjenbam, who was inducted into the Manipur Police in 2023 to oversee commando operations amidst rising ethnic violence, was immediately suspended. Sanjenbam had previously served in the Army’s 21 Para (Special Forces) and led India’s cross-border strike in Myanmar in 2015.
Protests Escalate
The death of Khundrakpam has fueled widespread protests, with the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei civil forum, leading demonstrations. COCOMI activists defied the curfew, locking entrances to several central government offices in Imphal, including the chief electoral officer’s office, GST Bhawan, and other government institutions.
Protesters also staged a sit-in at Imphal’s Khwairamband market, demanding a military crackdown on “Kuki Zo Hmar” militants. Meanwhile, students and civilians demonstrated at the gates of Manipur University, condemning the killings and seeking justice.
The ethnic violence in Manipur continues to expose deep divisions, with tensions heightened by a combination of historical grievances and ongoing conflict. The government faces increasing pressure to restore order and address the root causes of the unrest.
