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Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Protest over ‘Manipur' name removal on govt bus; Police fire tear gas, 8 injured
Imphal: At least eight people were injured after security forces fired smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse protesters who marched to the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Sunday afternoon over an alleged directive to remove 'Manipur' from a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus operating at the Shirui Festival in Ukhrul. The protesters had gathered at Khwairamband Keithel following a call by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex civil society body, to stage a mass agitation and had walked for around 500 metres before being halted by the police. Security personnel fired rounds of smoke bombs to disperse the protesters near Kangla Western Gate, injuring more than eight people. The protesters were demanding an apology from governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla over alleged refusal to apologise for the removal of the state's name from a government bus. The COCOMI has announced a statewide agitation and demanded the resignation of the chief secretary, the director general of police (DGP), and the security advisor. In a statement on Saturday, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity said that the 48-hour deadline given to the governor to issue a public apology had expired. A 48-hour general strike across Manipur had ended at midnight on Friday. 'The governor continues to disregard the sentiments of the people by his silence. He and his administration have completely humiliated the state's historical and cultural legacy while administering it. The inquiry commission set up by the government to probe the incident is inadequate and does not mention any penal action against those involved,' said one protester. COCOMI convenor Kh Athouba condemned the security forces' actions and said, 'COCOMI expresses serious anxiety and dissatisfaction over the unwarranted use of mock bombs and tear gas on non-violent protesters, particularly women. The deployment of such aggressive crowd-control measures is deeply concerning and unbecoming of a democratic administration.' The outcry began after a MST bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul for the inaugural event of the 5th Shirui Lily Festival was allegedly stopped on May 20 and ordered to remove the word 'Manipur' from its signage—an incident seen by many as an affront to the state's identity. Despite the heavy security, including large contingents of combined security forces, the rapid action force (RAF), were deployed at strategic locations around Imphal to prevent protesters from reaching the Raj Bhavan, hundreds of protesters gathered at Khwairamband Ima market and began marching towards the Raj Bhavan via BT Road. They were intercepted and blocked near Kangla Western Gate, approximately 150 metres north of the Raj Bhavan's main gate. Additional groups of protesters from Imphal East and Keishampat, Imphal West, also attempted to converge on the Raj Bhavan. They were blocked at Palace Compound and Keishampat junctions. Protesters chanted slogans. 'The governor continues to disregard the sentiments of the people by his silence. He and his administration have completely humiliated the state's historical and cultural legacy. The inquiry commission set up by the government is inadequate and lacks any provision for penal action,' said one protester. At least eight protesters, including women, sustained minor injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Athouba said that the COCOMI will continue various forms of protest under the ongoing 'statewide mass agitation' until their demands, including a public apology from the Governor, the resignation or immediate transfer of top officials, an end to the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters, and accountability for the security personnel involved in Sunday's incident, are met.
India Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Meitei group to launch civil disobedience agitation, boycott Manipur Governor
A leading Meitei group announced a civil disobedience movement across Manipur from Sunday in protest against Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's alleged refusal to apologise for the removal of the state's name from a government bus, sparking widespread Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of the Meitei community, has declared a public boycott of the Manipur Governor and announced the statewide mass agitation in response to what it calls an "insult" to the state's identity. The announcement follows the expiry of a 48-hour ultimatum issued to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to tender a public apology for the alleged restriction on the use of the word 'Manipur' on a Manipur State Transport (MST) Saturday, a COCOMI statement signed by convenor Kh Athouba condemned the Governor's silence and criticised the Presidential Rule (PR) administration's failure to address what it described as a grave affront to the state's identity. President's rule was imposed in the state on February controversy erupted following a May 20 incident in which an MST bus transporting a team of journalists was allegedly detained by central forces at Guwaltabi along the Imphal-Ukhrul road. The forces reportedly demanded that the word 'Manipur' be removed from the vehicle's signage before allowing the media team to proceed to cover the inaugural function of the fifth Shirui Lily the immediate aftermath, COCOMI declared a 48-hour general strike across the state, which concluded on Friday midnight. The shutdown affected normal life in four valley districts - Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching and Thoubal, with roads deserted and businesses accused the Governor and PR authorities of being disconnected from the ground reality and indifferent to the sentiments of the people. It was announced that beginning Sunday, people across the state would stage demonstrations outside Raj Bhavan demanding an apology. Similar protests would also be carried out at central government offices, district headquarters and PR administration stressing that the movement would remain democratic and non-violent, the statement said the people would express their resistance through a civil disobedience campaign against the PR urged people to withdraw cooperation from central government offices that have allegedly repeatedly undermined the dignity of the state. However, the statement clarified that essential services including education, healthcare, sports, banking, postal service and other vital sectors would be the demands of the agitation, the statement said, "The Governor must issue a public apology to the people of Manipur and top administrative officials, including the Chief Secretary, the Security Advisor and the Director General of Police, should resign, citing their incompetence. There should be a replacement of the current administrative inquiry committee with an independent panel led by a retired High Court judge and the administration should publicly explain the circumstances of the Guwaltabi incident."COCOMI stated that the movement was not a protest against peace, but a demonstration against what it called the surrender of governance to narco-terror threats, the alienation of the people of Manipur and the erasure of the state's identity under the PR regime. "Manipur is not a negotiable term," it said.(with inputs from PTI)Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Manipur
