A team of Manipur Police commandos allegedly attempted to detain Justice for Fair Delimitation (JFD) convenor Jitendra Ningombam at Konung Mamang while he was travelling with another JFD activist.
According to reports, the police team arrived in a bulletproof vehicle and intercepted the vehicle carrying Ningombam and the accompanying activist. The personnel allegedly tried to take both individuals into custody, prompting local Meira Paibis to intervene.
Following the intervention, Ningombam and the other JFD activist were reportedly allowed to leave the spot.
Police personnel present at the location reportedly said they had followed and stopped the vehicle because it was travelling without a registration number plate. However, it remained unclear whether the interception was linked to any ongoing investigation or was solely related to the vehicle's registration status.
The incident comes amid growing controversy surrounding JFD activities in Manipur. An FIR was reportedly registered earlier against Ningombam in connection with protests held in the Imphal area. The demonstrations were reportedly aimed at pressing for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur before the Census exercise.
There was no immediate official statement from the Manipur Police clarifying the circumstances surrounding Tuesday's incident. It also remained unclear whether the reported attempt to detain Ningombam was connected to the earlier FIR or was prompted only by the absence of a registration number on the vehicle.
The incident has drawn attention amid heightened political and civil-society activity over issues related to the NRC and the upcoming Census process in the state.