Former India footballer Laitonjam Sanathoi alleges security inaction after house burnt in Manipur violence

Former Indian footballer Laitonjam Sanathoi has expressed anguish over the destruction of his house during fresh violence in Manipur's Imphal West district, alleging that central security forces failed to prevent the arson despite repeated warnings and appeals for intervention.

The incident occurred on Saturday, July 11 in Kanto Sabal, a peripheral village in Imphal West, where at least five houses belonging to Meitei families were allegedly set ablaze during a march by Kuki protesters from neighbouring Kangpokpi district. Sanathoi's residence was among the houses destroyed in the incident.

Speaking to the media while holding photographs from his football career and a championship trophy recovered after the fire, Sanathoi alleged that security personnel prevented him from reaching his home while the houses were burning.

"When I saw smoke rising into the sky, I was certain my house had been burnt. I repeatedly requested the central forces to let me go, but they kept assuring me that nothing had happened to my house and prevented me from moving towards it. Only after the fire had ended was I allowed to enter," he said.

Sanathoi, who represented India in football and played in the Santosh Trophy as well as for clubs including FC Kerala and NEROCA FC, said the ethnic conflict that erupted in Manipur in 2023 forced him to abandon his football career. He said deteriorating financial conditions and the responsibility of caring for his ailing mother compelled him to take up daily wage labour.

According to Sanathoi, his family has been living in a relief camp at neighbouring Khurkhul village since being displaced following the outbreak of the conflict.

Recalling the events leading up to Saturday's violence, he alleged that groups of Kuki protesters had been marching towards Kanto Sabal for the past 10 days. Despite the repeated mobilisations, he claimed, the security forces failed to stop them, allowing the situation to culminate in the alleged burning of Meitei houses.

Sharing his personal ordeal, Sanathoi said he was married in February 2023 but was displaced to a relief camp with his family within three months due to the violence. To support his family and care for his mother, he quit professional football and began working as a labourer. His mother later died following a prolonged illness.

"I regularly visited my house, and the security personnel stationed there assured me that my property would remain safe while we stayed in the relief camp. Today, everything has been destroyed. Only my photographs and a trophy survived, and even those I found lying on the road," he said.

He also questioned the effectiveness of the deployment of security forces in the area, asking why army and other security camps were stationed nearby if they were unable to safeguard civilian lives and property.

Saturday's violence followed a march by a large number of Kuki protesters from Kangpokpi district towards Kanto Sabal village. During the incident, at least five Meitei houses were allegedly set on fire before the protesters dispersed.

Following the arson, a large number of residents from the Imphal Valley and members of the Naga community visited Kanto Sabal. They condemned the violence, demanded justice for the affected families, and urged the government to ensure that such incidents do not recur.