IMPHAL: Life in Manipur’s Imphal Valley came to a screeching halt on Friday as a contentious row over the state’s name on government vehicles escalated into a widespread shutdown, bringing normal life to a standstill across five districts. The 48-hour bandh, orchestrated by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), was sparked by allegations that security personnel coerced officials into obscuring the word “Manipur” on a state bus ferrying journalists to a tourism festival earlier this week.
The typically bustling streets of the valley were deserted, with bus services, private vehicles, and commercial transport remaining off the roads. Business establishments, schools, and government offices stayed shuttered, painting a stark picture of the widespread protest. Only vehicles handling medical emergencies and those en route to Ukhrul district for the Shirui Lily festival were granted passage.
The protest took a deeply symbolic turn as women supporters intercepted central security force vehicles in Bishnupur and Thoubal districts, promptly pasting “Manipur/Kangleipak” stickers on their windshields. “Kangleipak” resonates as the ancient, revered name of this northeastern state, underscoring the profound sense of identity at the heart of the agitation.
Enforcement of the bandh was stringent across the valley. Bandh supporters were seen instructing roadside vegetable vendors to close their stalls in areas of Imphal East, including Andro Parking, Kongba, and Khurai. Similar enforcement was observed in Imphal West’s Uripok, Singjamei, and Kwakeithel localities, indicating the pervasive reach of thestoppage.
Thursday evening witnessed a powerful display of collective sentiment with a two-kilometre torch rally. Protesters, their voices united, chanted slogans such as “Manipur cannot be obliterated,” highlighting the raw emotional intensity surrounding the state’s very identity and existence.
The entire controversy erupted on Tuesday when security forces allegedly intercepted a state-run bus carrying journalists to cover the Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul district. Officials from the Directorate of Information and Public Relations were reportedly compelled to cover the state’s name on the windshield with white paper near the Gwaltabi checkpoint, an act that has since ignited widespread outrage.
Responding to the mounting public pressure and the escalating tensions, the Manipur government on Wednesday announced a high-level probe into the incident. A two-member inquiry committee, comprising Commissioner N Ashok Kumar and Secretary Th Kirankumar Singh, has been tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the incident and is expected to submit its findings within 15 days. “The committee shall look into lapses, if any and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future,” a Home Department order clarified.
COCOMI has not held back in its demands, calling for apologies from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and the resignations of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police 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,” asserted COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba. “The people of Manipur demand to know under whose authority the decision was taken.”
With tensions running high and the situation remaining volatile, central forces have been strategically deployed at various locations around routes leading to the Raj Bhavan. The Shirui Lily festival, which has resumed after a two-year hiatus, symbolises a fragile attempt at normalcy for a state still grappling with the aftermath of devastating ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The festival’s return unfolds amidst President’s Rule, which was imposed in February following Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s resignation, further underscoring the delicate socio-political climate of Manipur.
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