Protesters have called a 10-day shutdown across the five districts of Imphal valley
Violence broke out across Manipur’s Imphal valley, particularly in the State capital, Imphal, after at least five leaders of the armed Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol (AT) were arrested on the evening of June 7, 2025.
Officials reported that large groups of people spilled onto the streets throughout the night, “burning tyres and old furniture to block the roads,” according to The Hindu. Mobs clashed with security personnel in multiple locations, including stretches along the Airport Road where some security force vehicles were set on fire. Major incidents of violence were reported from Imphal’s Kwakeithel and Uripok areas, with “scores of people, including security personnel, injured.”
An official from Imphal West district said, “The situation eased after midnight. Things have been quiet from morning.”
The tense atmosphere across the five districts of the Imphal valley follows a “civil disobedience campaign” launched by a pressure group after an alleged “disrespect of Manipur by security personnel” on May 20. The campaign was later suspended due to floods that hit the Valley more than a week ago.
Chaos returned on June 7 evening after the State’s security forces arrested five Arambai Tenggol leaders, including A. Kanan Singh, a former Manipur Police head constable. In anticipation of backlash, the State Government responded by suspending internet and mobile data services in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Kakching, and Thoubal districts for five days. An indefinite curfew was imposed in Bishnupur, while the assembly of four or more people was prohibited in the other four districts.
The protesters retaliated by “imposing a 10-day shutdown across the five districts,” exempting media and medical services.
(With inputs from The Hindu)