Normal life was disrupted in several parts of Manipur today as the proscribed National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) enforced a 24-hour statewide bandh in protest against the 1949 Manipur Merger Agreement.
The shutdown began at midnight on September 20 and is scheduled to continue until midnight today. The impact has been more pronounced in the valley districts, with shops, business establishments, educational institutions, private offices and public transport remaining largely closed. Inter-state road transport was also affected, while airline services continued to operate normally.
Essential services, including healthcare, fire services, water supply and media activities, have been exempted from the bandh. Security forces have intensified patrolling in sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident.
Ahead of the bandh, a joint team of the Manipur Police Special Commando Unit and 10 Assam Rifles arrested an alleged active NRFM cadre, identified as 39-year-old Namoijam Boboi Mangang, near Gate 1 of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences at Lamphel, according to reports.
The NRFM called the shutdown to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Merger Agreement on September 21, 1949. In its statement, the outfit questioned the circumstances surrounding the agreement and described it as an unlawful annexation of Manipur’s sovereignty. These are the NRFM’s stated claims and position.