IMPHAL — A 24-hour total shutdown imposed by 13 civil society organisations in Manipur to protest the government’s alleged inability to contain the escalating violence in the state since Saturday (November 9) crippled normal life in the state on Wednesday.
The protesting organisations further demanded the government's immediate action.
The shutdown, which ended at 6 pm on Wednesday, disturbed vehicular movement in the state, particularly in Imphal. All shops across major markets in the state—including the iconic Nupi Keithel (women’s market) in the heart of Imphal town and other periphery markets such as Singjamei, Lamlong, Kwakeithel, and Tera—remained closed due to the shutdown.
Functioning of state, central and private offices and business establishments was also affected during the shutdown, while all the educational institutions also remained closed. The shutdown caused not only Imphal to come to a standstill but also other areas of the state, as passenger vehicles were forced to stay off the roads.
At around 3.30 pm in Imphal, representatives of the 13 organisations submitted a memorandum to the Manipur governor through the under secretary as the governor was out of station.
In the memorandum, the organisations demanded immediate actions from the government to address the current crisis in the state. On Tuesday, two civilian dead bodies were found while six more civilians including three children were found missing in Jiribam district a day after ten suspected armed militants were killed in an encounter with security forces.
Trucks torched
Two goods trucks carrying essential commodities were set ablaze by unidentified armed miscreants near Old Keiphundai area along the Imphal-Jiribam sector of National Highway 37 (NH37) on Wednesday morning, according to people familiar with the matter.
The trucks were transporting essential commodities—including rice, onion and potatoes—to Longmai, Noney and Tamenglong districts, said the Rongmei Naga Students’ Organisation Manipur (RNSOM) in a press statement.
The attack marks the second such incident targeting vehicles along the NH 37, following the Kaimai incident and represents “a deliberate attempt to undermine the existence of Rongmei people within their own jurisdiction,” the RNSOM stated.
Alleging that the incident was carried out by armed Kuki militants, it announced an immediate and total boycott of all supplies to the Kukis in Tamenglong and Noney districts, until further notice.