Fresh unrest gripped the Pukhao Leitanpokpi area in Imphal East district on Sunday after Meitei farmers attempting to cultivate paddy fields at Sadu Lampak were reportedly obstructed by villagers from Songfel, a nearby Kuki village under Saikul Police Station in Kangpokpi district.
The standoff began around 8 a.m. and continued well into the afternoon, with both sides reportedly engaging in stone-pelting and the use of slingshots, despite efforts by Central security forces to control the situation.
Local sources stated that the Meitei farmers had obtained prior permission from Central forces to cultivate their ancestral lands. However, upon arrival at the site, they were confronted by a group from Songfel village, leading to a tense face-off that quickly escalated.
Videos circulating on social media showed Kuki villagers using abusive language and throwing projectiles at the farmers in the presence of security personnel. Other footage captured Central forces attempting to restrain Meitei individuals from retaliating, sparking widespread criticism over the perceived failure to protect the farmers’ rights.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Manipur Police confirmed the incident, stating that around 10 a.m., a Meitei farmer arrived with a tractor to plough the field when Kuki villagers objected, asserting that the land did not belong to him. The police said security forces led by the Additional SP of Imphal East and Central forces were already on the ground, with additional reinforcements, including the district SP, later deployed.
Despite the presence of authorities, field reports confirmed that the situation remained volatile throughout the day. Large gatherings from both communities assembled at the site, forcing Central forces to deploy smoke bombs to disperse the crowd as tensions escalated.
“This is our land—we have been cultivating it for generations. Now we need permission to farm, and even then we are stopped. This is unacceptable,” said one of the Meitei farmers at the site, voicing frustration over the repeated obstructions.
Songfel village’s location along the hill slopes adjacent to the disputed fields has long been a flashpoint since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in 2023. Sunday’s incident has once again drawn criticism of the Provisional Relief (PR) administration and state authorities for failing to ensure the rights and safety of displaced and affected Meitei farmers, despite clearances and security presence.
As the peak agricultural season approaches, unresolved land disputes and a lack of effective state intervention continue to deepen ethnic divides and fuel instability across conflict-hit regions of Manipur.
