Imphal: Akoijam supporters gherao BJP office as police arrest armed militant and theatre troupe premieres new play

Imphal saw a week of political confrontation and cultural activity: supporters of Congress MP Bimol Akoijam staged a gherao of the BJP state office alleging political targeting, police arrested a suspected militant and recovered hidden weapons in a separate operation, and Theatre Mirror Imphal premiered a new play backed by the state government’s arts support programme.

Akoijam Supporters Gherao BJP Office, Allege Political Witch-Hunt

Supporters of Congress MP Bimol Akoijam staged a gherao of the Bharatiya Janata Party state office in Imphal on October 14, 2026, alleging that the ruling party was conducting a political witch-hunt against the former Manipur University vice-chancellor turned parliamentarian. The demonstration, reported by India Today NE, reflected the charged political atmosphere in the state where tensions between the central government-aligned BJP and opposition figures have intensified. Supporters who gathered outside the BJP office shouted slogans and demanded an end to what they described as deliberate targeting of Akoijam through legal and administrative proceedings. Akoijam, a professor of chemistry who served as vice-chancellor of Manipur University before entering electoral politics as a Congress candidate, has been a vocal critic of the state’s BJP-led administration. His supporters argue that legal cases filed against him amount to harassment designed to suppress political dissent. The gherao came amid broader protests in Imphal reported by other news outlets, with demonstrators rallying for Akoijam and citing a harassment complaint from his time at Jawaharlal Nehru University as politically motivated. [3]

Police Arrest KCP Cadre, Recover Arms Cache in Nongmaijing Ching

Security forces and Manipur Police arrested Pukhrambam Jackson Singh (26), an alleged cadre of the proscribed outfit KCP (MFL), from Imphal East district, according to a report by ETV Bharat. The arrest proved significant when information disclosed by the suspect led security personnel to a concealed cache of arms and ammunition hidden in the foothills of Nongmaijing Ching. The recovery of illegal weapons from a buried or hidden location in the hills underscored the ongoing challenge of removing arms stockpiles linked to insurgent groups in Manipur, a problem that has persisted through years of counter-insurgency operations. KCP, or Kangleipak Communist Party, is one of several outfits operating in Manipur that security agencies have been working to dismantle. The operation was part of continuous security force activities in the state aimed at intercepting militant networks and recovering caches before they can be deployed. Liquor was also seized in a related operation in Senapati district, suggesting the suspect had connections to multiple illegal activities across different districts of the state. [9]

🎬 Theatre Mirror Premieres Play on Existentialism at JNMDA, Imphal

Theatre Mirror Imphal premiered its new play Amamkol, meaning The Blind, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy on October 14. The production was staged at the culmination of a training programme organised by Theatre Mirror under the aegis of the Art and Culture Department of Manipur, with financial support from the Chief Ministergi Artiste-shingi Tengbang (CMAT) 2025–26 scheme. The play, based on the theme of Marionette Existentialism of Contemporary Society, was written by Thounaojam Premjit and directed by Wareppa Khageengamba. At the premiere, Keishamthong constituency MLA Nishikant Singh Sapam delivered remarks underscoring the importance of theatre as an integral element of human civilization and praised the troupe’s continued work in the field. He noted that Manipur is home to talented artists, athletes, and theatre personalities who contribute meaningfully to the cultural life of the state. The evening honoured the legacy of the late Wareppa Naba, founder of Theatre Mirror Imphal, whose family remains active in promoting the organization’s work. Rupmahal Theatre vice-chairman Loitongbam Brajamohon and JNMDA Director Pukhrambam Bilash also addressed the gathering, applauding Theatre Mirror’s achievements. [5]

Sources: [3] India Today NE · [9] ETV Bharat · [5] The Sangai Express