Simultaneous bandhs completely halted daily life across Manipur’s Imphal Valley and Kangpokpi district on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, following a fresh wave of fatal ethnic clashes. A 48-hour shutdown called by the Native Peoples Committee Manipur in the valley overlapped with a total bandh in Kangpokpi, organized to protest the killing of a 45-year-old Kuki man in Ukhrul.
Police arrest three suspects in Imphal east ambush
State police confirmed significant breakthroughs following the Monday ambush in Imphal East that left three Meitei men dead. Additional Director General of Police Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo announced the arrest of three individuals tied to the attack. Preliminary investigations revealed that two of the suspects confessed to participating in the fatal ambush, while authorities continue investigating the third suspect and tracking additional co-conspirators.
Institutional closures : Educational institutions remained shut, while public transport stayed off the roads throughout the valley. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) stated that families will refuse to claim the bodies until all perpetrators are arrested.
High-level protests : Protesters previously dumped two victims’ bodies outside Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s residence, prompting security forces to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
