Two people have died and 25 others were injured in Manipur, a northeastern state of India, after security personnel opened fire on a crowd that stormed the district police headquarters and the office of the district administration in Churachandpur late on Thursday, according to reports cited by the Times of India on Saturday.
Violence and unrest escalated when a police officer ordered the suspension of another officer belonging to the Kuki community following the circulation of alleged images on social media showing him with armed criminals. Authorities described the incident as a grave breach for a member of a disciplined security force, highlighting the potential for a serious breach of trust and discipline within the forces.
Around 7:30 p.m. local time, approximately 400 people forced their way into the district police chief’s office to demand that the order be revoked. During the protests, civil and police offices in the district were raided and vandalized, and several security vehicles were set on fire. The scene underscored the fragile security situation in the region and the volatile mood among communities involved in long-standing ethnic tensions.
Interior Department sources cited by the same outlet warned of an imminent danger to lives and property, noting widespread public disorder driven by incendiary materials and rumors. The authorities emphasized the potential for further disturbances if calm and order were not restored promptly, underscoring a broader pattern of ethnic violence that has affected Manipur in recent months. The report notes that more than 200 people have died in ethnic violence in Manipur since May of the previous year, with 21 fatalities occurring in the last 45 days alone, reflecting a sustained crisis with local, regional, and political implications for security and governance in the state. Researchers and observers have pointed to the complex interplay of ethnic identities, political power dynamics, and social media narratives that can quickly amplify tensions and trigger outbreaks of violence. The incident in Churachandpur is one of several flashpoints that have drawn national and international attention, raising concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement responses and the safety of civilians in contested communities.
Officials from the interior ministry, as reported, stressed the need for precautionary measures to prevent a further breakdown of public order, urging restraint from all sides while investigations are conducted to determine responsibility for the violence and the deaths. The events also highlight ongoing debates about the handling of allegations against security personnel and the procedures for suspending officers when sensitive allegations surface in social media or other communications channels. In Manipur, where political and communal fault lines have long influenced security policy, the latest developments are likely to shape discussions about policing, crowd control, and community protection in the weeks ahead.