Tension gripped Phugakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district of Manipur today after a large group of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from , Torbung Bangla and several abandoned villages attempted to return to their native homes.Security forces stopped the march and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd after the situation turned volatile.The displaced families, belonging to Churachandpur district and areas of Bishnupur district bordering Churachandpur, gathered in large numbers demanding safe passage to their original settlements.Security personnel prevented them from proceeding beyond Phugakchao Ikhai, the last permissible point for the Meiteis.One protester said the IDPs decided to march because the President’s Rule administration has gone ahead with organising the Sangai Festival, claiming normalcy has returned to Manipur. He argued that if the state is stable enough to host a major tourism event, displaced people should also be allowed to resettle in their home towns.Earlier in the day, another protest took place in Imphal East when IDPs attempted to march toward the main venue of the Sangai Festival at Hapta Kangjeibung. Security forces stopped them at Khurai Lamlong, where a scuffle broke out, and tear gas was also reportedly used to control the situation.
