Manipur: Strike called in protest of UNLF cadres' arrest

Several Civil society organisations (CSO) have called for strike from midnight of Thursday in protest of the arrest of three Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF) cadres.

There are 12 COS’s which have called for a strike, the president of Federation of Civil Society Organizations (FOCS) Manipur, Th. Manihar has stated that “since those who made the arrests have requested time until 12 PM today, we waited until 1 PM. But nothing came from their side. 12 CSOs have called for a general strike from midnight today until Saturday midnight in protest against the arrest of three Pambei-led UNLF cadres.”

The CSOs stated there is peace agreement, a ceasefire, and ongoing dialogue. “These people are not supposed to be arrested. With the arrest of the chief of army, they have violated the ceasefire agreement. This is a humiliation to the party and the people of Manipur.”


The organisations stated that the Manipur government has stated it has no knowledge about the incident, “We are ready to launch intense agitation against the arrests. “We are urging the government of Manipur to put pressure on the central government to release the arrested individuals. We might end up boycotting elections.”

A senior official in Manipur police who does not want to be named told ET, “ NIA has confirmed about the three arrests. In an official statement by the NIA addressed to the Superintendent of Police, Imphal West, the three were arrested in connection with NIA Case number RC-23/2023/NIA/DLI-reg. The communication informs that the three cadres, Thokchom Shyamjai @ Thokchom Gynaeshor @Thoiba@ Zaw Tun @ Sidaba Mapu, Laimayum Anand Sharma @Ingba, and Ibomcha @ Landaba @Ibomcha Meitei, have been arrested”.

On November 29, 2023, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) -previously banned outfit - signed a Tripartite Peace Agreement with the Government of India and the State of Manipur.