Thousands of people across Manipur’s five valley districts took to the streets on Friday evening, October 23, to stage a sound protest against continued killings, the prolonged ethnic conflict and the government’s failure to restore normalcy.

Residents in several localities of Imphal banged utensils, beat drums, struck electric poles with hammers and honked vehicle horns between 7:30 pm and 8 pm. The demonstration was intended to draw the authorities’ attention to public grievances and demands amid continuing unrest.

The protest reflected growing frustration among residents over the unresolved conflict and the lack of progress towards restoring peace in the state.

Protesters march towards Kangla

During the demonstration, protesters marched towards Kangla, the historic political and cultural centre of the erstwhile Manipur kingdom. The site is located close to Lok Bhavan and the chief minister’s secretariat in Imphal.

Security forces stopped several groups at Palace Compound, Moirangkhom and Keisampat junctions. Hundreds of other protesters reached the entrance to Kangla but were prevented from entering the fort premises.

Police later fired tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators gathered near Lok Bhavan. Barricades were also erected in the area after 8 pm.

Federation of Haomee called for the protest

The demonstration was organised in response to a call by the Federation of Haomee, a civil society organisation that urged residents to make noise between 7:30 pm and 8 pm.

The organisation’s call came amid anger over the continuing ethnic conflict and demands for effective action to restore peace in Manipur.

A protester said the demonstration was intended to make leaders hear the public’s suffering, adding that repeated appeals and demands had not received adequate attention.

Fresh killings add to tensions in Manipur

The protest took place amid renewed tensions following recent killings in the state. On October 18, three Meitei civilians who had reportedly gone to collect firewood near the Khongbal Tangkhul foothills in Imphal East district were killed in an attack, triggering protests and demands for stronger security measures.

The killings were followed by a 48-hour statewide shutdown and demonstrations in which grieving villagers brought the bodies of two victims to the chief minister’s residence.

The latest sound protest adds to the public demonstrations over the continuing violence and the demand for a return to normalcy in Manipur.

India on Friday said that deviations by Chinese forces from established patrolling patterns periodically disturb the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made the remarks amid reports of continuing face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a regular media briefing on October 23, following remarks by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur about the ongoing confrontations along the border.

“As we have noted in the past, the situation in the India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns,” Jaiswal said.

He also reiterated that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas was essential for the overall development of bilateral relations between India and China.

MEA stresses diplomatic and military engagement

Jaiswal said India and China continued to use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations along the LAC.

He added that both countries had agreed to discuss ways to improve their understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas to strengthen border management.

The spokesperson did not elaborate on the specific confrontations mentioned by the ITBP chief, with further questions on the details referred to the Ministry of Defence, according to reporting on the briefing.

ITBP chief confirms ongoing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh

A day before the MEA briefing, Kapur said face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces had occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh in recent days and that the situation was continuing.

Speaking to ITBP personnel at a base in Alwar, Rajasthan, on Thursday, Kapur also discussed the force’s efforts to strengthen its operational capabilities along the border.

He said the ITBP had mobilised its newly raised Shaurya commando unit during the ongoing face-offs. He also highlighted the creation of drone platoons for border units and the development of a new training course to prepare personnel for battles similar to the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

The remarks came as the ITBP continued its modernisation efforts, including a greater focus on specialised training and emerging warfare technologies.

Border management remains central to India-China ties

The latest statements underline the importance India places on maintaining peace along the disputed boundary while addressing unresolved issues through diplomatic and military channels.

India and China have continued engagements aimed at managing tensions along the LAC. However, reported confrontations at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh have brought the border situation back into focus.

The MEA reiterated that peace and tranquillity along the border remained essential for the broader development of bilateral relations, while emphasising continued engagement to improve border management.

The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition filed by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora challenging a police notice that required her to execute a peace bond before a special executive magistrate.

Justice Subramonium Prasad pronounced the order on Friday, October 23, after reserving the verdict following arguments from both sides a day earlier.

The notice, issued by the Special Executive Magistrate in New Delhi district on October 17, directed Bora to appear before the magistrate and execute a personal bond of Rs. 10,000 with one surety to maintain peace.

The proceedings stemmed from her participation in protests in the national capital, including a gathering at Mandi House on October 16, amid demonstrations over alleged electoral fraud.

Why Neha Bora challenged the notice

Bora approached the High Court seeking to challenge the notice, arguing that it was ambiguous and factually incorrect. Her petition also alleged that the proceedings infringed her fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

She contended that the notice did not provide sufficient material to establish a likelihood of a breach of peace. It also failed to specify the period, occasion or event in connection with which the authorities apprehended such a breach, according to her petition.

Bora’s counsel further argued that she had organised a separate gathering at Mandi House and was not involved in the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest call at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16.

The petition sought relief against the notice and the proceedings arising from it.

What the police told the court

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Delhi Police, referred to 12 instances of alleged violations involving Bora and argued that the proceedings were preventive in nature.

The police also referred to a gathering at which activist Prashant Bhushan and Cockroach Janta Party leaders allegedly called for a change of regime.

Bora’s counsel countered that she had attended a separate protest at Mandi House and that statements made at a gathering could not automatically be attributed to her.

The arguments centred on the basis for initiating preventive proceedings and the allegations cited in the notice.

Neha Bora was detained during a protest on October 16

Bora was detained on October 16 while taking part in a flag march with AISA activists demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She was released at around 6 am on October 17.

The peace bond notice was issued on October 17, the day she was released from detention. It directed her to appear before the special executive magistrate and explain why she should not be required to furnish the bond.

The notice referred to allegations including raising slogans during the Mandi House protest, participating in repeated protest-related activities around Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, and encouraging people to join an unauthorised demonstration at Central Park in Connaught Place.

Bora disputed aspects of the allegations in her court petition, including the claim that she had instigated people to participate in the Central Park demonstration.

What happens after the court’s decision

With the High Court rejecting Bora’s petition, she has not obtained the relief she sought against the police notice. The notice requiring her to execute the peace bond remains in effect, according to reports on the court’s decision.

The dismissal concerns her challenge to the notice. The allegations cited in the preventive proceedings should not, by themselves, be treated as findings that she committed an offence.