Manipur Protesters Bang Utensils in Massive Rallies, Police Fire Tear Gas

Demanding an immediate return to normalcy and lasting peace, thousands of citizens took to the streets across five valley districts of Manipur in a unique demonstration. Organized under the banner of the civil society group 'Federation of Haomee', the protest saw widespread participation from men and women alike. However, tensions escalated sharply when a massive crowd gathered near the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, prompting security forces to fire tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators.

Drawing from local indigenous traditions, protesters registered their dissent by banging pots, utensils, and beating traditional drums. Many struck electric poles with hammers and continuously honked vehicle sirens to generate a unified wall of sound during the 30-minute demonstration from 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Spontaneous rallies were also witnessed in Singjamei, the home constituency of senior state leadership, where citizens openly chanted slogans against administrative inaction.

The demonstration intensified as large groups began marching toward the Kangla Fort, situated close to key administrative offices including the Chief Minister's Secretariat. Although security personnel had erected barricades at multiple intersections such as Palace Compound and Moirangkhom, hundreds breached the barriers to reach the fort's perimeter. Police intervened with tear gas shells to push back the crowd, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported from the confrontation.

At the heart of the agitation are demands for the immediate implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to identify and deport illegal migrants, alongside the scrapping of the Suspension of Operations agreements with armed militant factions. The peaceful yet resolute sound protest reflects the deep public frustration over protracted unrest, as Manipur's residents increasingly press the government for concrete, enforceable security measures.