Manipur continues to be under unrest as the Sub-Divisional Collector (SDC) Office in Yairipok Tulihal, located under the Andro Kendra constituency in Imphal East district, was set on fire by unidentified miscreants on Saturday evening at around 7:45 PM.
The fire caused significant damage to official infrastructure and vital records before emergency responders managed to douse the flames. According to a police officer, protestors were responsible for the attack, though the exact motive remains unknown.
Following the incident, security has been tightened in the region to prevent any further escalation. The arson comes amid a larger wave of protests in parts of the Imphal valley, where demonstrators have been defying curfews imposed by the state government.
While law enforcement agencies have succeeded in controlling much of the unrest during the day, scattered protests continue in some areas during the night hours.
In a separate development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested 46-year-old Ashem Kanan Singh in Imphal. Singh, a former Head Constable of the Manipur Police, was dismissed from service on March 3, 2025, for his alleged involvement in criminal activities, including cross-border arms smuggling.
His arrest on June 7 sparked fresh protests across the valley, further intensifying tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made key arrests in connection with the deadly ambush on security forces in Moreh, Tengnoupal district, on January 17, 2024. The ambush had resulted in the deaths of two police commandos and left several others injured.
In connection with the case, Thangminlen Mate, a member of the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal (KIT), was arrested in Silchar, Assam, on May 19, 2025. Kamginthang Gangte, associated with the Kuki National Army (KNA), and Hentinthang Kipgen alias Thangneo Kipgen, linked to the Village Volunteers group in Churachandpur district, were arrested from Manipur on June 6.
Following these arrests, civil society organisations launched protests and shutdowns across Moreh and Tengnoupal on June 6 and 7, adding to the already volatile situation in the state.
In a statement, Manipur Police urged the public not to support individuals involved in illegal or criminal activities and called for cooperation in maintaining law and order. Authorities reiterated their commitment to restoring peace in the region and bringing the situation under control.
Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across sensitive areas, and local leaders have been requested to assist in efforts to return the state to normalcy.