A wave of shutdowns has brought Manipur to a standstill, severely impacting life in Imphal Valley and Naga hill districts. Fueled by grief over targeted killings, the protests continued Monday, with police cracking down on rally violence by detaining 21 suspects.
The Meira Paibi, renowned as Manipur’s fiercest women’s activist network carrying torches for justice, rallied civil groups for a valley-wide bandh spanning multiple districts. The action protests the horrific April 7 incident in Bishnupur where two children were slain and their mother wounded in a suspected Kuki militant assault.
From Saturday midnight, the valley saw complete paralysis: no vehicles plied, markets closed, and protesters—many women—physically blocked roads. The economic toll mounted as businesses halted, underscoring the shutdown’s iron grip.
Parallel unrest gripped Naga hills after the United Naga Council declared a three-day bandh protesting the April 18 murders of two locals in Ukhrul, pinned on Kuki insurgents. All Naga-dominated areas complied, amplifying the statewide disruption.
Violence erupted two days ago during a torchlight procession on Imphal-Jiribam road, organized by civil outfits from Patsoi to Sagolband. Protesters reportedly attacked security forces with stones, petrol bombs, slingshots, and rocks, injuring multiple people including three gravely hurt CRPF jawans. Vehicles were damaged in the melee before police regained control.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas made a fervent plea Sunday for organizers to withdraw the bandhs, prioritizing public good and normalcy. Chief Minister stepped in decisively, transferring probes of both the Ukhrul gunfire and Bishnupur blast to NIA for impartial, in-depth investigation.
These events expose Manipur’s fragile ethnic balance, where community-led shutdowns blend mourning with militancy, challenging authorities to restore peace without further alienating grieving groups.
