On June 14, 2024, the Democratic Student’s Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) organized a protest at 11 AM, raising concerns about the state government's recruitment process for pre-primary teachers. The protest was led by DESAM Assistant Secretary General Sorokhaibam Rokiyo (20), Anti-drugs Campaign Secretary Pilot Khangembam (23), and Finance Secretary Oinam Surjakanta (29).

Following the protest, the three leaders were arrested by the police and remanded to judicial custody. They face charges under FIR No. 394 (6) / 2024, with accusations including house trespass, theft, obstruction of public servants, criminal intimidation, conspiracy, and mischief causing damage to public property, as per sections of the Indian Penal Code and the PDPP Act.

The protest and subsequent arrests have drawn significant media attention. DESAM alleges that the arrests are an act of reprisal against their activism, urging the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene and initiate an independent inquiry under Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019.