Episode 5 of Mission Manipur ("Free Movement?") provides a detailed account of the violent events that unfolded on March 8 in Manipur even as the State is under President's Rule, highlighting the escalation of tensions and its tragic consequences. The violence erupted in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement on March 1 that free movement should resume across buffer zones separating the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. This move, seen as premature by security forces, triggered widespread anxiety.

The incidents that occurred on March 8 sparked violent confrontations, arson, and gunfire. Amid the chaos, a 19-year-old was fatally shot, and over 50 people, including security personnel, were injured, forcing the administration to impose a curfew on the highway while Kuki-Zo leaders announced an indefinite shutdown in the district. This episode raises pressing questions about intelligence failures, miscommunication, and the administration's handling of the crisis, leaving the region in continued turmoil.