A haunting silence blanketed Manipur’s valley districts on Tuesday as the 48-hour total shutdown called by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) witnessed near-complete public compliance on its first day.
The protest was sparked by the controversial act of the MAHAR Regiment reportedly covering the word “Manipur” on a state-run transport bus ferrying media persons to Ukhrul for the Shirui Festival.
Major commercial hubs across Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, Bishnupur, and even the usually active Jiribam District bordering Assam, wore a deserted look.
Roads were empty, markets shuttered, and public transport off the streets. Protesters blocked key routes with burning tyres and makeshift barricades, signaling collective outrage over what many see as an attack on Manipur’s identity and pride.
In Jiribam, where ethnic tensions have often mirrored the state’s larger unrest, the shutdown saw surprising solidarity, with local civil society groups extending support to the valley’s stand.
COCOMI reiterated its demand for an apology and accountability from the Indian Army, warning that “symbolic erasure of Manipur will not be tolerated.”
Security forces maintained a low-key presence, allowing the shutdown to proceed largely peacefully, although tension remains high.
As Manipur braces for Day 2 of the shutdown, one message resonates clearly from its silent streets: Manipur is united in its identity and it refuses to be silenced.
