Manipur: Clash breaks out between police and internally displaced persons in Imphal

IMPHAL(Manipur): A clash broke out between the Police, IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and people under the aegis of COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) who are attempting to boycott the Sangai Festival.

The Internally Displaced Persons are demanding their rehabilitation amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the state.

The Sangai Festival is an annual cultural and tourism festival held in the state of Manipur. The festival showcases Manipur’s art, culture, food, and traditions through various events like cultural performances, traditional games, and local food stalls.

The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities broke out in 2023, claiming hundreds of lives and displacing more than 50,000 people.

Further details about the matter awaited.

Meanwhile, based on specific intelligence regarding illicit poppy cultivation, Assam Rifles on Thursday launched a joint operation with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Manipur Police in the general area of Songlung village in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur.

#WATCH | Imphal East, Manipur: A clash broke out between the Police, IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and people under the aegis of COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) who are attempting to boycott the Sangai Festival. IDPs are demanding their rehabilitation.… pic.twitter.com/1GUJetlIfF

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2025

The operation commenced during early hours and involved area domination and a search operation to uncover pockets of illegal narcotics cultivation. During the conduct of the operation, the joint team detected and destroyed about 10 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, along with three makeshift huts used for storage and processing activities.

The destroyed poppy fields had the potential to yield around 70 kgs of opium worth multiple crores.

Conducted over challenging terrain and dense vegetation, the operation reflects the relentless efforts of Assam Rifles to destroy illegal narcotics cultivation.

This successful operation reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the Assam Rifles to ensuring a drug-free Northeast, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and socio-economic development in the region.

Earlier, the Assam Rifles destroyed about 25 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, which had the potential to allegedly yield over 170 kgs of opium worth multiple crores of rupees, officials informed on November 16.

Based on intelligence regarding illicit poppy cultivation, Assam Rifles, alongwith CRPF and Manipur Police, launched a joint operation in the general area of Loibol Khullen in Kangpokpi District on Saturday.

During the operation and area domination exercise, officials also searched suspected pockets, during which the poppy field was discovered.

“Conducted under challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions, the operation highlights the unwavering efforts of Assam Rifles to curb illicit narcotics cultivation and dismantle the financial networks that fuel insurgency and other anti-national activities,” the official statement read. (ANI)