Manipur: Normal life affected today during 48-hour bandh against arrest of 5 youths

Normal life was affected in Manipur on Tuesday during the 48-hour bandh called following the arrest of five ‘village protection volunteers’. Several civil society organisations are demanding their unconditional release.

Manipur police on Sunday stated there are reports of extortion threats, misuse of police uniform and impersonation by armed miscreants. In view of this, Manipur Police has been making all out efforts to curb the same.

Police narrated in one such operation, on Saturday Manipur Police arrested five people with sophisticated weapons in camouflage uniforms. They are being proceeded legally. In response to this arrest, large number of people came out to protest and tried to storm Porompat Police station demanding release of the arrested persons.


Joint security forces repelled this attack by firing tear gas shells. In this melee, nine civilians and an Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel received minor injuries.

Police stated that these five arrested persons were produced before Judicial Magistrate and they have been remanded into further police custody.

Police stated that strict legal action is being taken against these anti-social elements. Manipur Police is determined to carry on such raids/ operations and make all out efforts to bring peace and normalcy in the State. "Simultaneously, Manipur Police appeals to the general public to refrain from such protest and co-operate with the law enforcement agencies in bringing peace and normalcy in the State".

In view of the shutdown in five valley districts, all types of vehicles, including those of security forces were off the roads, inter-district, inter-state buses and trucks did not operate.

Markets, shops, business establishments, banks, government offices, educational institutions were closed in the five valley districts -- Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal West, and Imphal East.

Examinations of various institutions scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday were postponed. Movement of Central and state security forces were obstructed in many places as the agitators blockaded many roads.

The civil society organisations earlier set a deadline to release the five detainees, but police rejected the demand.

M Memcha, a spokesperson of the agitating organisations, claimed that the village protection volunteers were “protecting Meitei villagers from the attacks of the Kuki tribals and armed militants”.