The Meitei community erupted in protest after “Manipur” was allegedly covered on a government bus during a festival. Governor Bhalla’s airlift to safety—amid human chains and tear gas—symbolizes rising ethnic tensions. COCOMI is demanding high-level resignations and plans talks in Delhi to address what it calls an “anti-Manipur” agenda.
BY PC Bureau
May 26, 2025 — Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla was airlifted to Raj Bhavan from Imphal’s Tulihal Airport on Monday after hundreds of Meitei protesters, led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), formed human chains and held demonstrations along Tiddim Road.
The protests were triggered by a May 20 incident during the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district, where security personnel at Gwaltabi checkpost allegedly instructed the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to conceal the word “Manipur” on a government bus transporting journalists. The move, perceived by the Meitei community as a direct attack on Manipur’s identity, led COCOMI to call a 48-hour statewide bandh on May 21.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) agitation entered its second day on Monday as hundreds of protestors stood along Tiddim Road to confront Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla upon his return from New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/lx1k3P6yg6
— Jon Suante (@jon_suante) May 26, 2025
COCOMI has demanded a public apology from the governor and the resignation of top officials including Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh, and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh.
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Escalation and Clashes
On May 25, thousands of protestors, including students and women’s groups, marched toward Raj Bhavan but were stopped by security personnel near Kangla Gate. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowd, resulting in minor injuries to several women. Protesters carried placards declaring “Manipur’s identity is non-negotiable” and “Governor must apologise.”
Anticipating further unrest, security forces deployed Assam Rifles, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), and state police along the 6-km route from the airport to Raj Bhavan. Human chains formed along the road, prompting officials to airlift the governor via Army helicopter to Kangla Fort, located 300 meters from his residence.
An official source cited “prevailing security concerns” for the airlift, stating the governor’s return from Delhi was routine and not protest-related.
Public Response and Political Fallout
The decision to avoid road travel further inflamed public sentiment. “The governor’s refusal to meet the people shows he knows he made a mistake,” said RK Tharaksana, convenor of COCOMI’s women’s wing. “This act has only fueled our movement.”
COCOMI, which has accused the administration of undermining Manipur’s identity, sent a seven-member delegation to Delhi for talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs scheduled on May 27. Convenor Khuraijam Athouba called the bus incident “anti-Manipur” and an attack on the state’s legacy.
Solidarity protests were also held in Bishnupur district, including human chains in Ningthoukhong and Moirang. In Kwakeithel, scuffles broke out as protesters attempted to burn an effigy of the governor; tear gas was used to disperse them.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 2025, following the resignation of CM N. Biren Singh amid ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The Shirui Lily Festival, intended to foster unity, has instead underscored longstanding tensions.
The bus controversy has deepened divisions, especially in the wake of the May 2023 ethnic violence that left over 230 dead and thousands displaced. The Meitei community—making up 53% of the population and concentrated in the Imphal Valley—continues to clash with Kuki-Zo tribal groups in the hill districts.
The airlifting of Governor Bhalla amid mass protests highlights the volatility in Manipur, where questions of identity and representation remain deeply sensitive.
