KANGPOKPI, Jan 4: A protest rally organized by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) in Kangpokpi District on Friday escalated into violence, with demonstrators demanding the withdrawal of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) from Saibol village. According to Manipur Police, protestors attacked the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP), Kangpokpi, pelting stones and hurling petrol bombs.

The rally, supported by several Kuki organizations, including CoTU, was part of ongoing opposition to the deployment of central forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the region. Tensions heightened during the demonstration, prompting security personnel to use force to disperse the crowd.

In the chaos, SP Kangpokpi, Manoj Prabhakar, sustained injuries, while several vehicles at the SP’s office premises were damaged. “The SP has received necessary medical treatment and is fine now. He is currently leading the joint security forces in managing the situation,” stated Manipur Police in a post on X.

Videos and images from the rally show scenes of unrest, including armed individuals dressed in camouflage clothing carrying sophisticated weapons on the streets. Additional visuals depict damage to vehicles within the SP’s office compound, reflecting the intensity of the clashes.

The protest and subsequent shutdown were triggered by an earlier confrontation on Tuesday between security forces and Kuki-Zo women in the district, which has since fueled widespread unrest. The shutdown, called by CoTU, has paralyzed normal life in Kangpokpi District.

Following Friday’s violence, a substantial contingent of security forces was deployed to manage the situation. Authorities report that the situation is now under control and being closely monitored.