The Imphal Valley entered the second day of a 48-hour general strike called by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), with the shutdown’s impact growing more pronounced. Life across the region has come to a near-total standstill, with empty streets, shuttered markets, and halted public activity marking the intensifying protest.
The bandh, which began yesterday, was triggered by a controversial incident involving the Indian Army’s MAHAR Regiment. During a recent event, the regiment reportedly obscured the word “Manipur” on a State Transport bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily Festival. The act has been widely condemned by civil society groups and citizens, who view it as a deliberate affront to Manipur’s identity.
Across the Imphal valley, residents have mobilized in large numbers to support the shutdown. Makeshift roadblocks have appeared in almost every neighborhood, underscoring a sense of solidarity and growing public outrage. Protesters have described the Army’s action as a provocation and a symbolic erasure of the state’s dignity.
