Arambai Tenggol calls off 10-day Manipur bandh, protest to continue

Time of India

a day ago

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Imphal
: Arambai Tenggol has officially called off its 10-day bandh in Manipur, which was launched to protest the arrest of its leader, Asem Kanan Singh. The suspension took effect on Tuesday morning, marking the third day of the agitation.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the group's PRO, Robin Mangang, condemned Singh's arrest and said the bandh was withdrawn in response to public appeals and recognition of the hardships faced by civilians.
"Understanding and accepting the various inconveniences caused by the ongoing total shutdown, we have decided to call off the bandh," he said.
Despite lifting the bandh, Arambai Tenggol vowed to continue democratic forms of agitation until Asem Kanan Singh is released unconditionally.
"We are an unarmed group formed as a socio-cultural organisation with the objective to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of Manipur. However, circumstances forced us to defend the state from 'illegal immigrant Kuki terrorists', which led to us taking up arms. Unfortunately, as a result, govt agencies like the NIA and CBI have started arresting our members," Mangang said.
Even though the shutdown has been lifted, Mangang reaffirmed that peaceful protests will persist until Singh's unconditional release.
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The bandh severely disrupted daily life in the five valley districts of Manipur —Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching — bringing activity to a near standstill. The situation was further intensified by internet shutdowns and prohibitory orders imposed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by the state govt to maintain law and order.
Commercial activity was hard hit, with Khwairamband Keithel, the state's largest marketplace, remaining largely closed.
Only a few women vendors selling vegetables in the early hours were seen operating, while most shops kept their shutters down. Public transport services were also off the roads, with only vehicles involved in emergency services, essential supplies, and religious functions permitted to operate.
To prevent escalation, state and central security forces were deployed across sensitive areas in Imphal and key points in the valley districts.
The bandh, enforced primarily in the valley districts, was not observed in the hill districts of the state. It was triggered by protests that erupted late at night on June 7, leading to the imposition of a 10-day total shutdown starting that same day.