Manipur shutdowns hit life in both valley, hill regions; 21 arrested after violence

Imphal, April 20 Normal life in both the Imphal valley and Naga-inhabited hill areas of Manipur has been severely disrupted as shutdowns called by different organisations continued on Monday. Meanwhile, police arrested 21 people for their alleged involvement in violence during a rally in Imphal West district two days ago.

The shutdown in Imphal valley -- covering five to six districts -- was called by Meira Paibis (women torchbearers), one of the most influential women's bodies, along with various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

The protest is against the killing of two minor children and the injury to their mother, allegedly by suspected Kuki militants, in Bishnupur district on April 7.

The shutdown, which came into effect from midnight on Saturday, has led to a near-complete halt in daily life across the valley.

Members of the Meira Paibis and groups of women protesters were seen at several locations blocking roads and restricting vehicular movement.

According to police, passenger and commercial vehicles remained off the roads, while shops, business establishments, and roadside vendors stayed shut, contributing to widespread disruption.

In the hill regions, the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, has separately called a three-day total shutdown across all Naga-inhabited areas of the state from midnight on Sunday.

The UNC announced the shutdown to protest the killing of two Naga civilians, including a retired Indian Army personnel, in Ukhrul district on April 18, allegedly by suspected Kuki militants.

In a statement, the UNC said that, in view of the “outrageous aggression over their homeland and the cold-blooded killing of two Naga civilians,” it convened a joint emergency meeting with various organisations on Sunday at Tahamzam in Senapati district.

The statement added that the total shutdown would continue from midnight on Sunday until midnight of April 23 across all Naga areas, both as a mark of mourning and as a collective expression of condemnation.

During this period, all public and private institutions, business establishments, and vehicular movement will remain suspended, except for emergency services.

The UNC also announced that a candlelight vigil would be held on the evening of April 23 in all Naga-inhabited district headquarters, as well as in Imphal, to honour the deceased and reaffirm a commitment to peace with dignity.

Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh on Sunday appealed to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the public to reconsider and withdraw the shutdowns in the interest of public welfare and the normal functioning of the state.

Meanwhile, police said that at least 21 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in violence during a rally in Imphal West district two days ago.

According to a police statement, on April 18 a torch rally was carried out along the Imphal–Jiribam road, organised by various CSOs from Patsoi to Sagolband.

During the rally, the mob reportedly turned violent, resorting to stone-pelting, hurling petrol bombs, and using catapults and boulders against police personnel, resulting in multiple injuries.

Official vehicles of security forces were vandalised, and three personnel of the 232 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained grievous injuries. Police said the mob was eventually dispersed and the situation brought under control.

In another development, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of the Meitei community, accused security forces of using excessive force against protesters and sharply criticised Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh over what it described as a failure to contain the escalating violence in the state.

COCOMI spokesperson Shanta Nahakpam said that recent incidents, including the killing of two minors earlier this month and subsequent civilian deaths in fresh attacks, have triggered widespread public anger and sustained agitation across the Imphal valley.

He added that despite the deteriorating situation, the Chief Minister has continued district visits projecting progress in the peace process, a claim the organisation has rejected.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has announced that the state government will hand over both the April 18 Ukhrul district shooting incident and the April 7 deadly bomb attack in Bishnupur district to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a thorough and comprehensive probe.

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