Manipur CM Y. Khemchand Singh inaugurated the Wangjing-Tentha Block Development Office in Thoubal district amid widespread protests and road blockades. Police firing left one person with a bullet injury and two others hurt by tear gas shells.
IMPHAL – Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, inaugurated the Block Development Office (BDO) of Wangjing-Tentha C.D. Block, Thoubal District, on Monday, amid heavy protests, road blockades, and police action that left one person with a bullet injury and two others hurt by tear gas shells.
CM Arrives by Chopper as Road Blockades Grip Thoubal District
Privileged to inaugurate the Block Development Office at Wangjing Tentha CD Block, Thoubal, in the presence of Smt. A. Sharda Devi & Hon’ble MLAs.
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) April 21, 2026
A key step towards stronger grassroots administration, enhanced transparency, and efficient service delivery. Committed to… pic.twitter.com/rwGZ1zE7CZ
The inauguration, scheduled for 2:00 PM, could not be conducted on time due to the chaotic situation on the ground. The Chief Minister, unable to travel by road owing to widespread blockades and a public boycott, arrived by chopper from Imphal to the 46 Assam Rifles camp at Phundrei, Khongjom, reaching the venue around 3:00 PM via the Mayai Lambi route before proceeding to inaugurate the BDO office.
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The development drew sharp irony from observers, who noted that while CM Khemchand has recently inaugurated several projects in hill districts by travelling via road without any opposition, he was unable to do so in Wangjing — a valley location in his own state. |
Meira Paibi-Led Boycott Triggers Mass Agitation on NH-102
The protests were spearheaded by the Thoubal Apunba Meira Paibi and the Thoubal District Meira Paibi Lup, who had announced the boycott of the Chief Minister’s visit a day earlier. Since early morning, large numbers of men and women gathered on National Highway 102, lighting fires and blocking roads at Babu Bazar, Melaground, and Khangabok in Thoubal district, bringing all vehicular movement to a halt.
A Meira Paibi member articulated the protesters’ stand, saying that the people do not oppose development in Manipur. However, they questioned whether there was no other time to inaugurate the BDO building than during a five-day total shutdown observed over the painful deaths of two children. The members expressed deep resentment, alleging that the Chief Minister’s visit was a narrow-minded attempt to portray Thoubal District as a peaceful area unaffected by the ongoing public unrest in Manipur.
The five-day total shutdown is linked to the deaths of two children, over which a Joint Action Committee (JAC) has been agitating and demanding justice.
Protesters Attempt To Storm Venue; Police Fire Tear Gas and Bullets
As the hour of inauguration approached, the situation at Wangjing Tekcham Leikai, the designated venue, turned tense. Local youths and women attempted to storm the site. Manipur Police personnel, deployed to ensure the CM’s visit passed without incident, fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Shortly before the CM’s scheduled arrival, youths from Heirok, Kairembikok, and Wangjing Tentha also attempted to breach the BDO office from multiple directions, including through paddy fields. When tear gas failed to deter the protesters, police resorted to blank firing to control the crowd.
Videos of police personnel smashing vehicles parked along the road and firing bullets at vehicles while attempting to control protesters subsequently went viral on social media platforms.
One Shot, Two Injured in Police Action
The violence during the police action resulted in three injuries:
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INJURIES — POLICE ACTION |
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Elangbam Nandabir (Bye) Singh, 37 Bullet injury — abdomen. Special Police Officer, Heirok. Surgery at Raj Medicity, Imphal. |
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Naoba Sapam, 20 Tear gas shell — leg injury. Khongjom Bazar. Under treatment at District Hospital Thoubal. Condition not critical. |
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Laishram Ningol Roshni (d/o Bisho, Samaram) Tear gas shell — leg injury. Khongjom Bazar. |
CM Addresses Gathering; Urges Dialogue Over Protest
Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh expressed surprise at the opposition he faced in Thoubal district, noting that his recent visits to several hill districts had passed without any resistance. He said: “Any differences can be sorted out by sitting together. All solutions come after talks between the parties involved.”
The Chief Minister recalled the recent tragic incident at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district as the most heart-wrenching incident, and reiterated that the government had already met the Joint Action Committee of the victims twice, along with Home Minister Shri Govindas Konthoujam. He assured the JAC that their demands would be fulfilled, adding that the government is also considering arranging suitable government jobs for the parents of the victims.
Expressing strong resentment over the five-day total shutdown, the CM said such activities create confusion among the general public and that the government sometimes feels sorry for such situations. He also assured the people of Wangjing that the 3.5-km-long approach road in the area will be constructed at the earliest.
MLAs in Attendance
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Paonam Brojen Singh — Wangjing Tentha A/C |
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Dr. Thockchom Radheshyam Singh — Heirock A/C |
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Kongkham Robindro Singh — Mayang Imphal A/C |
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Sheikh Noorul Hassan — Kshetrigao A/C |
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Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei — Keirao A/C |
The Deputy Commissioner and other government officials also attended the inauguration function.
