Imphal: Residents from several villages in Manipur have launched demonstrations urging authorities not to withdraw central forces from Uyok Hills, an area recently marked by clashes between militants and security personnel.
Villagers from Thamnapokpi, Sanasabi, and Yaingangpokpi near Saibol have been staging sit-ins at the foothills of Uyok since Monday evening, expressing concerns over the possible removal of BSF and CRPF units stationed at Saibol village, which borders Imphal East district.
According to officials, the villagers fear that the forces might be withdrawn under pressure from certain groups, leaving their villages vulnerable to attacks by armed miscreants.
“We’ve heard unconfirmed reports about the removal of central forces from Uyok Hills. That’s why we’re camping here, appealing to the CRPF and BSF not to yield to demands from Kuki groups,” said Mangi Leima, one of the demonstrators.
Leima further claimed that withdrawing the forces could result in renewed attacks on the villages by armed groups.
Last month, gunfights erupted between suspected tribal militants and security forces after armed men fired from positions near Saibol village, targeting the low-lying villages of Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi.
The attack injured four people, including a police officer.
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In response, central forces were deployed to Saibol and dismantled illegal bunkers in the area.
Tensions escalated on January 3, when a mob attacked the office of the Superintendent of Police in Kangpokpi district, injuring the officer, allegedly over his failure to remove central forces from Saibol.
The protests followed an alleged lathi charge by security forces on women demonstrators in the village on December 31.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 2023, resulting in over 250 deaths and thousands displaced from their homes.
Villagers now fear that any reduction in security presence could reignite violence and leave their communities unprotected.
