Manipur governor flew just 6km by helicopter amid massive protests — here’s what’s going on

Imphal: Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla took a short helicopter ride from Imphal airport to the historic Kangla Fort, located just 300 metres from the Raj Bhavan, on Monday.

The decision came amid large-scale protests along the usual road route, with hundreds of demonstrators forming a human chain in protest against the removal of the word “Manipur” from a state transport bus.

The incident that triggered the protests occurred on May 20, when a Manipur State Transport bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul was stopped by central security personnel. They reportedly ordered the removal of the word “Manipur” from the bus signage, a move widely perceived as an affront to the state’s identity and pride.

In response to the protests, which were spearheaded by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI)—a prominent civil society coalition—the governor chose to travel by army helicopter approximately 6 kilometres from the airport to the Kangla Fort area, avoiding the protest route along Tiddim Road. Protesters had formed a human chain from the airport’s departure gate to Keishampat Junction, displaying banners demanding the governor apologise and calling for the removal of key state officials, including Chief Secretary PK Singh, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh.

Security forces attempted to prevent protesters from marching to the Raj Bhavan in Imphal West district. Reports say they used tear gas to disperse the crowd and stopped an attempt to burn an effigy of the governor in Kwakeithel Bazaar. Despite this, protesters vowed to continue various forms of agitation until their demands were met.

The state government has defended the controversial directive to remove “Manipur” from the bus. Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh stated the measure was a precautionary step to prevent incidents similar to the May 8 attack in Kangpokpi, where suspected Kuki-Zo militants attacked a bus. The region has seen prolonged ethnic violence since May 2023, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 260 people and displaced around 60,000 residents.

Meanwhile, the COCOMI delegation, led by convenor Kh. Athouba, departed for New Delhi on Monday to hold discussions at the Ministry of Home Affairs. The seven-member team includes representatives Yengkokpam Dhiren Meetei, L Jadumani Singh, Thiyam Bharat Singh, Laikhuram Jayenta Singh, Phijam Shyamchand Singh, and Yumkhaibam Surjitkumar. Their talks aim to address unresolved political and security concerns connected to the ongoing Manipur crisis.

The governor’s decision to take a helicopter for such a short distance underscores the tense atmosphere in Imphal and reflects the volatile situation stemming from the perceived suppression of Manipur’s identity and the wider ethnic unrest in the state.