Protesters attempt to storm Sangai Festival venue; police fire tear gas to disperse crowd

Tension gripped Hatta Kangjeibung, the main venue of the Sangai Festival 2025, on November 20 as police fired tear gas shells to stop a large group of protesters attempting to storm the festival grounds. 

The demonstration was led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which has been vocal against the government’s decision to proceed with the state’s flagship tourism event despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by mass displacement.

Protesters marched towards the venue, shouting slogans such as “We boycott Sangai Festival” and “Displaced lives matter,” arguing that the celebrations were inappropriate at a time when thousands of people remain displaced and in distress. The crowd attempted to break through security barricades at Hapta Kangjeibung, prompting security personnel to intervene.

Police fired multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who were pushed back from the venue’s entrance. 

Authorities said the action was necessary to prevent the situation from escalating and to ensure the safety of visitors and officials attending the festival.

A mass sit-in protest was organised on Thursday, November 20, across several relief camps in Manipur’s valley districts, with displaced residents strongly opposing the state government’s plan to hold the Sangai Festival amid the ongoing crisis.

Protesters displayed placards reading “Free Movement First, Then Sangai Festival”, “We Boycott Sangai Festival”, and “First Resettlement, Then Celebration”, demanding that the government prioritise their rehabilitation over hosting the event.

Speaking to the media, a woman from the Lamboikhongnang Khong Relief Camp, which shelters over 700 inmates, said it was deeply unfortunate that the government—currently under President’s Rule—was preparing to celebrate the festival while thousands remain displaced.