Senapati, June 3, 2025, Virthli: Tensions flared at the Senapati district headquarters on Tuesday as the 48-hour office picketing protest led by the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) entered its second day. The protest, which began on June 2, is part of the larger “People’s Movement Against the Scrapping of FMR and Imposed Border Fencing Construction Amidst Naga Homeland.”
In a major flashpoint during the agitation, a vehicle belonging to the Superintendent of Police (SP), Senapati, was reportedly damaged following a confrontation between police personnel and student protesters. According to eyewitness accounts, the clash occurred after the SP attempted to access his office, allegedly defying the protest directive that called for the closure of all government offices in the district. A heated exchange ensued, culminating in a scuffle and damage to the official vehicle.
The office picketing protest has seen wide participation from federating units under the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), including the Mao Students’ Union (MSU), Maram Students’ Union (MKS), Poumai Naga Students’ Union (PNTM), Thangal Students’ Union (TAJ), and Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Senapati Zone (ZSU-SZ). Government offices across the Naga-inhabited hill districts have remained shut, severely impacting administrative operations.
No injuries were officially reported as of Tuesday evening, but the incident has heightened tensions in an already charged atmosphere. Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the confrontation or the damage to the SP’s vehicle.
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The protest continues to draw attention to the larger demands against the unilateral implementation of border fencing and the revocation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border - issues that tribal groups say threaten their traditional homelands and mobility.
