48-hour bandh affects normal life in Manipur's Imphal valley

Imphal: The 48-hour state-wide bandh called by Meitei organisation Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in protest against the removal of the state’s name from a government bus affected normal life in the five districts of Imphal Valley for the second day on Friday.

All business establishments, educational institutions, government and private offices remained closed and public transport remained off the roads.

No private vehicles allowed

Except for medical emergencies and those seeking to go to Ukhrul district to attend Shirui Lily festival, no other private vehicles are allowed to ply on the roads.

Several women bandh supporters stopped vehicles of central security forces in different parts of Bishnupur and Thoubal districts and pasted “Manipur/ Kangleipak” on the windshields of security vehicles. Kangleipak is the ancient name of Manipur.

On Friday morning roadside vegetable vendors had opened their stalls at Andro Parking, Kongba and Khurai areas in Imphal East district but bandh supporters told them to close their stalls.

Bandh supporters enforced the bandh at Uripok, Singjamei and Kwakeithel in Imphal West district.

Torch rally for 2 km

On Thursday night bandh supporters staged a torch rally for 2 km and raised slogans stating “Manipur cannot be obliterated.”

Central forces personnel have been deployed at strategic places across all points leading to the Raj Bhavan.

Probe into bus incident

The Manipur government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the allegations that security personnel forced to cover the state’s name on a bus taking journalists to the Shirui Lily festival.

It was alleged that security forces had stopped the state-run bus, on which journalists were being taken by the government to cover the tourism festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday, and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state’s name written on the windshield with a white paper.

The government formed a two-member inquiry committee, and said that it will “examine facts and circumstances involving security personnel and Manipur State Road Transport Bus carrying media persons to cover the Manipur Shirui festival on May 20 near Gwaltabi checkpost”, according to an order issued by the Home Department.

“The committee shall look into lapses, if any and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future,” it said.

The committee, comprising Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar and Secretary Th Kirankumar Singh, has been asked to submit its report within 15 days, it added.

Amid outrage over the incident, COCOMI called a 48-hour general strike from Wednesday midnight, and demanded an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the resignation of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh and Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh.

“The decision to have Manipur removed from a state bus itself is anti-Manipur, absolutely challenges the idea of Manipur and its historical and cultural identity,” COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said.

“The people of Manipur demand to know under whose authority the decision was taken. It should be clarified to the public within 48 hours,” he added.

The Shirui Lily festival

The Shirui Lily festival is being held after a gap of two years as the state, ravaged by ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo community, limps back to normalcy amid the President’s Rule, which was imposed in February following the resignation of N Biren Singh as the chief minister.

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