In a recent escalation of unrest, Manipur’s Churachandpur district witnessed a tragic outbreak of violence resulting in at least three fatalities and numerous injuries. Security forces tried to suppress a mob that stormed a government compound housing the offices of the police superintendent and district collector late Thursday. The mob’s rampage led to the burning of the collector’s residence and several security vehicles parked nearby.
Amidst these tumultuous events, the state government took decisive action, suspending cellular data services in the Kuki-majority Churachandpur district for five days. Joint Secretary (Home) Mayengbam Veto Singh emphasized the risk posed by “anti-social elements” leveraging social media to incite public unrest, necessitating preventive measures to safeguard life and property.
While the Manipur Police have yet to officially comment on the casualties, local sources identified the deceased as Letlalkhuol Gangte and Thanggunlen Haokip, both residents of Churachandpur. Reports from the district hospital indicate that another individual too succumbed to gunshot wounds, with over a dozen others sustaining injuries in the violence leaving 3 dead.
The February 15, 2024 uprising and killings by the security forces will be called "The Wall of Remembrance Massacre."
Indigenous Tribals Leaders Forum (I.T.L.F)


The trigger for this latest bout of turmoil stemmed from the suspension of a police head constable from the tribal Kuki community, following the circulation of a viral video depicting him alongside armed individuals and village volunteers. Police Superintendent Sivanand Surve cited “grave misconduct” as grounds for the suspension, underscoring the need for discipline within the police force.
Tensions between the Kuki and Meitei communities have been further exacerbated by the setting up of barricades at key entry and exit points, manned by armed individuals identifying as “village defense volunteers.” The suspension of the head constable sparked outrage among the community, leading to protests outside the police superintendent’s office and subsequent clashes with security forces.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), representing Churachandpur’s tribal bodies, condemned the swift suspension of the head constable, highlighting discrepancies in the treatment of Kuki and Meitei police officers implicated in similar incidents. They called for a shutdown in Churachandpur and demanded the immediate departure of Police Superintendent Shivanand Surve from the district, holding him accountable for the unrest.