48-hour bandh affects normal life in Manipur's Imphal valley
Imphal, The 48-hour state-wide bandh called by Meitei organisation Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity in protest against the removal of the state's name from a government bus affected normal life in the five districts of Imphal Valley for the second day on Friday.
All business establishments, educational institutions, government and private offices remained closed and public transport remained off the roads.
Except for medical emergencies and those seeking to go to Ukhrul district to attend Shirui Lily festival, no other private vehicles are allowed to ply on the roads.
Several women bandh supporters stopped vehicles of central security forces in different parts of Bishnupur and Thoubal districts and pasted "Manipur/ Kangleipak" on the windshields of security vehicles. Kangleipak is the ancient name of Manipur.
On Friday morning roadside vegetable vendors had opened their stalls at Andro Parking, Kongba and Khurai areas in Imphal East district but bandh supporters told them to close their stalls.
Bandh supporters enforced the bandh at Uripok, Singjamei and Kwakeithel in Imphal West district.
On Thursday night bandh supporters staged a torch rally for 2 km and raised slogans stating "Manipur cannot be obliterated."
Central forces personnel have been deployed at strategic places across all points leading to the Raj Bhavan.
The Manipur government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the allegations that security personnel forced to cover the state's name on a bus taking journalists to the Shirui Lily festival.
It was alleged that security forces had stopped the state-run bus, on which journalists were being taken by the government to cover the tourism festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday, and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper.
The government formed a two-member inquiry committee, and said that it will "examine facts and circumstances involving security personnel and Manipur State Road Transport Bus carrying media persons to cover the Manipur Shirui festival on May 20 near Gwaltabi checkpost", according to an order issued by the Home Department.
"The committee shall look into lapses, if any and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future," it said.
The committee, comprising Commissioner N Ashok Kumar and Secretary Th Kirankumar Singh, has been asked to submit its report within 15 days, it added.
Amid outrage over the incident, COCOMI called a 48-hour general strike from Wednesday midnight, and demanded an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the resignation of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh and Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh.
"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," COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said.
"The people of Manipur demand to know under whose authority the decision was taken. It should be clarified to the public within 48 hours," he added.
The Shirui Lily festival is being held after a gap of two years as the state, ravaged by ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo community, limps back to normalcy amid the President's Rule, which was imposed in February following the resignation of N Biren Singh as the chief minister.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
42 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
No single entity can claim credit for India's freedom: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
NAGPUR: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that 'no single entity' can claim 'exclusive credit' for the 'monumental achievement' of India's freedom from the British, underlining it was a result of the actions of countless individuals and groups. Bhagwat, speaking at a book release in Nagpur late on Friday, emphasised that the freedom movement began with the 1857 uprising, which ignited a struggle that led to India's liberation. 'Discussions about how the country gained its independence often overlook a crucial truth. It was not due to one person. The flames of the freedom struggle were ignited across the nation after 1857...,' he said. Bhagwat cited contributions of countless individuals and groups to the independence, dismissing the notion that a single entity could claim 'exclusive credit' for this achievement, without naming anyone. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fount, RSS, have sought to counter the criticism of the latter's role in the freedom movement. Critics have long targeted the RSS for staying away from the freedom movement, even as its supporters argue it had a significant role, citing the involvement of leaders such as founder KB Hedgewar in the anti-colonial struggle under the influence of Lokmanya Tilak. Hegdewar, who was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for an anti-British speech in 1921, was also jailed for his involvement in the 1930 movement against the British salt monopoly. The RSS has argued that it focused on building a unified society, as social divisions led to India's subjugation, to counter criticism over its absence from the 1942 Quit India Movement. Critics argue that the writings of RSS leader MS Golwalkar, who called the anti-colonial movement reactionary and temporary and believed the real internal enemies needed to be fought, show that fighting the British was not the priority. They say RSS's aim was not the end of British rule but the establishment of a 'Hindu Rashtra', putting it at odds with a secular national movement under the then umbrella organisation Congress. On Friday, Bhagwat also elaborated on the RSS's role and philosophy and said many who speak of its merits and flaws may not be familiar with it. 'Those who take the time to understand our organisation often say they are impressed and have learned much.' He added that RSS derives its strength from the sacrifices of dedicated volunteers guided by collective decision-making. Bhagwat sought to address common misconceptions and insisted that it is not about individual accolades but the collective action of RSS members that is significant. 'The highest rank in the RSS is that of the ordinary volunteer,' he said. Bhagwat said dedicated members serving selflessly amid everyday life carry out the RSS's true work. He encouraged volunteers to expand their belonging networks and engage in selfless service. Bhagwat said that true happiness comes from identifying lasting fulfilment in helping others. 'Selfless service is the paramount goal for each [RSS] volunteer,' he said. Bhagwat said a volunteer's life is full of emotions while living among the people and performing their duty. 'But his experiences are extraordinary while remaining in an ordinary state,' he said. 'Whether anyone comes or not, he goes to the RSS shakha [gathering] daily, putting aside his problems, and helping others.' He said young RSS volunteers selflessly supported the armed forces by providing essential supplies during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. 'These acts of bravery and service may not have received widespread recognition, but they are integral lessons shared within the RSS,' said Bhagwat.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Bodies of Naxal commanders killed in recent Chhattisgarh encounters recovered
Security forces have recovered the bodies of seven Naxals eliminiated during the ongoing anti-Naxal crackdown in the National Park area of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district in separate operations carried out over the last three days, officials said on bodies were recovered by the security forces after anti-Naxal encounters that took place in the National Park area on Thursday, Friday and today. Among the Naxal commanders whose bodies were recovered, were Central Committee Member Gautam alias Sudhakar and Telangana State Committee Member June 5, security forces took custody of the mortal remains of Maoists' Central Committee Member (CCM) Gautam alias Sudhakar, while the body of Telangana State Committee (TSC) Member Bhaskar was recovered the next day, on June 6. Later, during encounters in the intervening nights of June 6 and 7, three more bodies were recovered. On Saturday, two more Maoist bodies were recovered following an exchange of fire between security forces and the Naxalites. One of them was Bhaskar, who had a total bounty of Rs 45 lakh on him. This includes a bounty of Rs 25 lakh in Chhattisgarh and Rs 20 lakhs in the seven Maoist bodies recovered so far, five - including two women and three men - remain unidentified, officials said, adding that efforts are underway to establish their forces also recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during the three-day anti-Maoist operation, which included at least two AK-47 assault rifles seized from the encounter extensive search and area domination exercises continue across the dense forested terrain to track down any surviving Maoist operatives believed to be hiding in the vicinity. Officials said these operations aim to ensure full sanitisation and secure control of the security personnel reportedly sustained operational injuries, including snake bites, honeybee stings, and dehydration, while navigating the challenging jungle terrain. All injured personnel are receiving medical care and are currently in stable condition.A comprehensive update regarding the recoveries of weapons and other materials will be shared as soon as consolidated inputs are received from the ground forces, they ON NAXALISMSecurity forces have launched a massive crackdown against Maoists in the affected areas of central Indian states, including Chhattisgarh, and have succeeded in eliminating top Naxal commanders in recent Thursday, Sudhakar, a top Naxal leader carrying a bounty of Rs 40 lakh, was killed in an encounter with security forces in encounter came close on the heels of the killing of Nambala Keshav Rao, also known as Basavaraju, who was killed in an encounter in May. He was among 30 Naxals neutralised in a joint operation led by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) in the dense Abujhmad forests - a Naxal Lohara, the head of a Naxal outfit Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad and a wanted militant carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh, was killed in an encounter with security forces in the state's Latehar district last senior leader of the group, Prabhat Ganjhu, who had a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, was also gunned down during the exchange of weeks ago, 24 Naxals surrendered before authorities in Bijapur and another 33 Naxalites, 24 of whom carried a combined bounty of Rs 91 lakh, surrendered before security forces in the state's Bastar region, according to massive crackdown comes as Union Home Minister Amit Shah set a deadline of March 31, 2026, to eliminate Naxalism from the inputs by JitenderMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Chhattisgarh#Jharkhand
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
5 more Maoist bodies found in Bijapur's Indravati Park amid ongoing operation
Raipur: At least five more bodies of suspected Maoists, including those of two women, were recovered from the forests of Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday morning, amid an ongoing anti-Maoist operation. This comes after the security forces killed senior leader of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and central committee member Sudhakar in an encounter in the forests of Bijapur, and top Maoist leader Bhaskar in the Indravati National Park area in Bijapur on Thursday. 'A total of seven Maoists, including two senior leaders — Central Committee member Sudhakar alias Gautam and Telangana State Committee member Mailarapu Adelu alias Bhaskar — have been killed during a major three-day-long anti-Naxal operation,' a statement issued by the police on Saturday said. The security forces have reportedly intensified their combing and area domination operations from Thursday onwards in key Maoist stronghold areas bordering Telangana. Also Read: Who was senior Maoist leader Sudhakar killed in Bijapur encounter? 'On Friday, security personnel recovered the body of Sudhakar, a senior Central Committee member and a top-ranking ideologue of the CPI (Maoist). The following day, on Friday, Mailarapu Adelu alias Bhaskar — a prominent Maoist leader from Telangana — was found dead at a nearby location. He was reportedly the secretary of the Mancherial-Komarambheem Division and carried a reward of ₹45 lakh ( ₹25 lakh from Chhattisgarh and ₹20 lakh from Telangana),' the statement read. The statement added that operations during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday led to the recovery of five more bodies, including those of two women, whose identities are yet to be confirmed. 'All of them are active cadres of the outlawed CPI (Maoist). Identification of the deceased is underway,' a police officer said. Also Read: The inside story of how senior Maoist leader Basavaraju was killed in Abujmad A cache of arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles and explosive material, was seized from the encounter sites, according to the statement. Some security personnel sustained minor injuries due to snake bites, honeybee stings, dehydration, and other field-related causes, but all injured are reported to be stable and under medical care. 'The operation — part of an intensified crackdown on Maoist presence in the National Park area — continues with ground forces conducting search and flush-out operations across the surrounding forest terrain,' the police statement added. Meanwhile, civil rights activists and the Telangana civil rights association on Saturday alleged that Chhattisgarh police had taken Maoist leaders into custody in Bijapur and were killing them one by one in staged encounters. Police, however, dismissed the allegations, stating that all actions were lawful and carried out in strict accordance with operational protocols.
