In Manipur, the Sangai Festival was launched on Friday (November 21, 2025) in a protest by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which affected the attendance.

The opposition to the annual festival, which is held every two years, is that many of them believe that the State government was supposed to settle the ethnic conflict and reintegrate the IDPs into the country before staging tourism activities. The ethnic tensions between the ethnic tribal Kuki-Zo and the non-tribal Meitei communities erupted on May 3, 2023.

It was the second consecutive day of confrontation between the protesters and the police as the former attempted to break into the festival venue in the capital of the State, Imphal, on Friday. The protestors threw stones at the police, who fired tear gas shells to bring order to the protest.

The Sangai Festival 2025 Edition at Lamlong Bazar, in Imphal East, on November 21, 2025. 

In Manipur, the Sangai Festival was launched on Friday (November 21, 2025) in a protest by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which affected the attendance.

The annual festival, which is conducted every two years, is a move that is being opposed by many since they believe that the State government should have settled the ethnic conflict and brought back the IDPs to their normal lives before conducting tourism activities. The ethnic tensions between the ethnic tribal Kuki-Zo and the non-tribal Meitei communities erupted on May 3, 2023.

On Friday, the protesters continued fighting the police for the second consecutive day when they attempted to enter the festival venue in the State capital, Imphal. The protestors threw stones at the police, who fired tear gas shells to restore order.

The conflicts were during a cease work by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei pressure group spearheading the protest. The organisation condemned the State administration under President’s Rule that was championing an anti-people festival.

Before the protest, the titular king of Manipur and a member of the House of Rajya Sabha, Leishemba Sanajaoba, alleged that an IPS officer had stormed his residential compound.

On Thursday (November 20, 2025), the MP filed a written notice with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and alleged that IGP (Zone-I) Themanginga Ngashangva had invaded his compound at around 1:30 p.m., threatening security personnel on the pretext that he (MP) was housing the IDP.

According to the Manipur police, a group of around 50-60 people, also known as COCOMI volunteers, organised a march with placards and slogans against the festival, against the prohibitory orders issued by the Imphal East district authorities.

“Repeated efforts were made by the security personnel to stop and calm down the protestors. IGP (Zone–I) Themthing Ngashangva was present on the scene in charge of the situation.” The police, in a statement, said, “police teams that included women personally made several attempts to stop and disperse the group.”

The statement also added that the mob became violent and hurled water bottles and placards at the police as a woman protester attacked the IGP and used some derogatory racial slurs as he was executing his duty.

“The crowd then proceeded to the palace building, where the house guards of the Hon’ble MP admitted them to the building, not cooperating with the police. The IGP went to the gate, who wanted to inquire about the activity of the house guards.” The police said,” he did not enter the premises of the palace.”

By declaring that the registration of a criminal case was being registered, the police announced that it was in the process of tracking down the woman protester who had attacked the IGP.

The demonstrations led to the fact that there was low attendance during the opening of the festival, which was opened by the Governor.

The ethnic conflict in Manipur, which left over 260 dead and displaced up to 62,000 people, prevented the Sangai Festival last time. The State was put under President Rule on February 13, when the BJP could not agree on a successor to Nongthombam Biren Singh, who resigned as Chief Minister on February 9.