Meitei protesters lock up CEO, GSI offices in Imphal
Photo/Agencies
IMPHAL: Protesters locked up two central government offices in Imphal Tuesday amid an escalating standoff over forced concealment of the word "Manipur" on a government bus headed to a hill festival last week.
The restive state has been under President's rule since February.
Activists of COCOMI, an umbrella body of Meitei groups, stormed the chief electoral officer's office at Lamphelpat and asked the staff to leave before locking the main gate. They then shut down an office of the Geological Survey of India, located a few kilometres away, raising slogans like "apologise or leave Manipur" against governor AK Bhalla. The activists outnumbered security personnel.
The protests began when a Manipur State Transport bus ferrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district was allegedly stopped at the Gwaltabi checkpoint on May 20 and ordered to hide 'Manipur' on the windshield.
COCOMI had on Monday adopted a resolution vowing to close central offices, sparing only essential services like healthcare, education, sports and banking.
On Tuesday, some organisations organised a human chain demanding an apology from the governor. Similar protests were held in Bishnupur district. Various civil society organisations and student groups have declared support for the movement, viewing it as crucial for safeguarding Manipur's integrity and identity.
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