Imphal: Imphal Valley ground to a halt on Thursday as a 48-hour bandh, orchestrated by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), paralyzed daily life. The widespread protest stems from a contentious incident in which the name “Manipur” was reportedly obscured on a government bus ferrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival, a perceived affront to the state’s identity.
From the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, shops, educational institutions, government offices, and all forms of public transportation remained shuttered across five key districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur. Residents observed the shutdown, while visible groups of protesters in areas like Wangkhei, Khurai, Kongba, Kwakeithel, and Naoremthong actively encouraged compliance. To further enforce the bandh, tires were set ablaze at various intersections, creating visual barriers and deterring movement.
Security forces maintained a heavy presence throughout the region, with particular vigilance around crucial installations and routes leading to the Raj Bhavan. The state government has acknowledged the gravity of the situation and initiated an investigation into the reported actions of security personnel and the state-operated Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus involved in the incident.
Reports indicate that at the Gwaltabi checkpost, security personnel allegedly instructed government media staff to cover the state’s name displayed on the bus’s windshield with white paper, a prerequisite for the vehicle to proceed towards Ukhrul district, the venue for the Shirui Lily Festival.
Khuraijam Athouba, convenor of COCOMI, vehemently condemned the incident, stating, “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.” He emphasized the public’s demand for immediate answers, adding, “The people of Manipur demand to know under whose authority the decision was taken. It should be clarified to the public within 48 hours.”
In response to the escalating public outrage, the Home Department swiftly established a two-member inquiry committee. Comprising Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar and Secretary Th Kirankumar Singh, the panel has been tasked with thoroughly examining the “facts and circumstances involving security personnel and the MSRTC bus” and is mandated to submit its findings within a 15-day timeframe.
Furthermore, the committee has been instructed to propose measures aimed at preventing any recurrence of such incidents in the future, highlighting the government’s intent to address the underlying issues.
COCOMI has outlined specific demands, including a formal apology 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, signaling the depth of their discontent.
The Shirui Lily Festival, resuming after a two-year hiatus due to the lingering ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, was envisioned as a step towards fostering normalcy in the conflict-ridden state. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February, following the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
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