Normal life disrupted in Imphal Valley as 48-hour bandh enters second day

Imphal: Normal life in the five districts of Imphal Valley was affected for the second day on Friday due to a 48-hour state-wide bandh called by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei organisation, protesting the removal of Manipur's name from a govt bus.

Business establishments, educational institutions, govt and private offices remained closed and public transport remained off the roads. Except for medical emergencies and those travelling to Ukhrul district to attend the Shirui Lily festival, no other private vehicles were allowed to ply on the roads.

In Bishnupur and Thoubal districts, women bandh supporters stopped vehicles of central security forces and pasted ‘Manipur/ Kangleipak' on the windshields of those vehicles. Kangleipak is the ancient name of Manipur.

Early Friday, 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. The bandh was also enforced at Uripok, Singjamei and Kwakeithel in Imphal West district.

On Thursday night, bandh supporters participated in a torch rally for 2km 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.

The Manipur govt 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 govt 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 govt formed a two-member inquiry committee, and said 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.

COCOMI called the strike from Wednesday midnight, demanding governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's apology and resignations from 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 convener Khuraijam Athouba said. PTI