On the night of 7 October 2015 in New Delhi, several tribal protestors were arrested. Their protest was organised as a show of solidarity for the agitations by indigenous hill tribes in Manipur against the passing of three bills in the state. Collectively, these bills – Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Bill (seventh amendment) and Manipur Shop & Establishment (second amendment) – work against tribal rights and interests in the state. The motive for an indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from 4 November onwards (which continues even now in April 2016), under the aegis of Manipur Tribal Forum, Delhi (MTFD), was to draw attention of the powers that be at the Centre who have, so far, been silent on the issue. The killing of nine tribals in Churachandpur district of Manipur because of police reprisals against the agitations in the district was another reason for the indefinite 'coffin protest' at Jantar Mantar.
On the night of 31 August 2015, right after the bills were passed in an emergency legislative assembly session in Manipur, angry protestors marched towards the houses of their district representatives, torching one after the other. The violence began at the residence of the then Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing followed by attacks on five other residences, including Member of Parliament Thangso Baite's house. A deep sense of betrayal was the tinder that lit the fires. Ministers in the state assembly, despite incessant appeals by tribal groups such as the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) to either speak about the hill people's concerns or oppose the bills strongly, chose to remain indifferent. All three bills were passed swiftly without any opposition.
By February 2016, the agitation against the passing of the bills eased after local leaders from the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JACAAB) and women from the All Manipur Tribal Women Union (AMTWU), who are now at the forefront of the movement, took measures to temporarily ease heightened tension against the state among the tribal communities. This uprising against the bills took a violent turn after numerous forms of non-violent protest in the form of rallies, dharnas and public meetings, particularly in hill districts like Churachandpur, were ignored. Similar forms of protest were also, undertaken in metropolitan centres of India after the bills were passed.
For a majority of bills, passed at the state level, the governor's assent is all that is required before it becomes the law. However, the governor can request the President of India to give his assent before it becomes the law, in the case of controversial bills. At present, there is a deadlock over the issue, as the bills await the consent of the President of India.