Manipur Bus Name Row: Protesters Lock Govt Offices, Deface Signboards As State Boils Again
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The protest was part of a statewide agitation triggered by the covering of the state's name on a government bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district.
Tensions in Manipur flared on Tuesday after student activists from the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) locked central government offices and defaced signboards in the valley districts.
The protest was part of a statewide agitation triggered by the covering of the state's name on a government bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district.
Protesters sealed the offices of the Geological Survey of India and the Chief Electoral Officer at Lamphelpat in Imphal West. Signboards bearing 'Government of India" were defaced with mud—a symbolic act of protest against the Centre.
The outrage stems from a May 20 incident in Gwaltabi, where the name 'Manipur" was reportedly concealed on a government bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival. The move sparked widespread anger, interpreted by protesters as an affront to the state's identity.
Large-scale demonstrations—mostly led by women—swept through the valley districts, including Imphal East and West.
In Khurai, women protesters marched to the Deputy Commissioner's office, disrupting operations and demanding an official apology from Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
In Imphal West, demonstrators formed human chains and carried placards reading 'Self-determination is our birthright."
Protesters are also calling for the resignation of the Chief Secretary and the Security Advisor, accusing them of negligence and exacerbating the ongoing unrest.
The agitation is being spearheaded by a coalition of civil society organisations, including the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), AMAWOVA (All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association), Poreileimaril, the Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), and the Committee on Human Rights (COHR).
Amid rising tensions, Governor Bhalla arrived in Imphal from New Delhi on Monday and was airlifted to Kangla Fort via Army helicopter, as protesters gathered near Kwakeithel on Tiddim Road with plans to march to the Raj Bhavan.
The planned march, covering a distance of three kilometres, was met with heavy security.
In Kwakeithel, protesters attempted to burn an effigy of the Governor, prompting clashes with security personnel. Central forces, including the Assam Rifles and the Rapid Action Force, have since been deployed across Imphal to maintain order.
First Published:
May 27, 2025, 21:23 IST
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It was followed by the broader Udhampur-Katra-Baramulla railway project, estimated at Rs 2,500 crore, which saw its foundation stones laid by prime ministers H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral in 1996 and 1997 at Udhampur, Qazigund, and Baramulla. Construction began in 1997 but faced repeated delays due to challenging geological, topographical, and weather conditions, significantly inflating the cost to over Rs 43,800 crore as of now. Recognising the strategic importance of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL), it was declared a national project in 2002, the officials said. Out of the 272 km stretch, 209 km has already been commissioned in phases including Qazigund-Baramulla in 2009, Banihal-Qazigund in 2013, Udhampur-Katra in 2014, and Banihal-Sangaldan in 2023. The final stretch connecting Katra to Sangaldan has completed the link in February 2024, they said. The engineering marvel includes 38 tunnels and 927 bridges along the Kashmir rail project. 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