Manipur police defend IGP

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 21 : Manipur police have issued a clarification in response to the allegations that a senior IPS officer Themthing Ngashangva "barged into" the residential compound (Royal Palace)  of Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba yesterday.
Police, in a post on X, stated that the incident stemmed from a protest by around 50–60 COCOMI volunteers opposing the Manipur Sangai Festival 2025, in violation of prohibitory orders.
It elaborated that around 1.15 pm yesterday, a mob of about 50-60 individuals, identified as volunteers of COCOMI, emerged from Govindajee crossing carrying placards and shouting slogans opposing the conduct of the Sangai Festival 2025 and proceeded toward Hapta Kangjeibung in clear violation of the prohibitory orders issued by the District Magistrate, Imphal East.
Security personnel made repeated attempts to stop and peacefully disperse the protestors, it claimed.
Saying that IGP (Zone–I) Themthing Ngashangva was on the scene supervising the situation, it added that police teams, including women personnel, repeatedly tried to stop and disperse the group.
However the mob turned violent, throwing water bottles and placards at the police, police claimed and alleged that a woman protester assaulted the IGP and used derogatory racial slurs while he was performing his duty.
Claiming that the mob later moved toward the Palace premises, where house guards of the MP allowed them inside, hindering police efforts, police maintained that the IGP approached the gate to question the action of the house guards.
The Senior IPS officer did not enter the premises of the Palace, police said.
Police said that a criminal case has been registered at Porompat Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 for offences including assault of a public servant, obstruction of duty, breaching security barricades, use of racial slurs, and unauthorised movement toward a protected premises.
Efforts are underway to identify the woman protester who assaulted the IGP, using available video footage and witness statements, police said and reiterated that the Manipur police personnel on duty acted with restraint and professionalism, and that only the minimum force necessary was used to restore order.