COCOMI general strike ends peacefully
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 23 2025: The 48-hour general strike/bandh called by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) against the directive issued by central security forces to remove 'Manipur' from the Manipur State Transport (MST) bus carrying media persons at Gwaltabi on May 20 concluded on Friday midnight without any report of untoward incident.

The general strike severely affected normal life in the state, especially in the valley districts, while effigies of chief secretary, security advisor and DGP were set on fire at many places during the strike effective from Wednesday midnight.

COCOMI general strike ends peacefully

On the second day of the strike on Friday, Meira Paibi activists of Sagolband Thangapat Mapal blocked road and burnt effigies of chief secretary, security advisor and DGP.

Meira Paibis of Lilong Chajing and nearby areas also blocked the Imphal-Moreh road near Lilong bridge and burnt effigies of chief secretary, security advisor and DGP as Meira Paibis of Yaiskul, Moirangkhom and nearby localities staged sit-in-protest during the general strike and demanded action against those responsible for the Gwaltabi incident.

At many places in Imphal city and its periphery areas, large numbers of people came out and blocked the roads severely affecting movement of people.

At some places, vehicles of central security forces were blocked and made turn back.

Due to the general strike, all three Khwairamband markets were shut for two days while passenger vehicles were off the roads.

Schools and colleges too remained shut during the strike period.

However, there were no restriction on movement of people for the Shirui Lily festival and those relating to religious ceremonies and emergency services.

Our Jiri correspondent reported that people of Jiribam district fully supported the 48 hours general strike called by COCOMI.

Markets, educational institutions and both government and private institutions in the district remained shut during the strike period.

People came out to the streets and blocked roads on the second day but there was no report of untoward incident during the strike.

Our Thoubal correspondent also reported that the 48 hours general strike affected normal life in the district.

Meira Paibis and youth also enforced the strike at many places of district by blocking roads.

The general strike also brought life to a standstill in Bishnupur district for two days as all the major markets in the district including Oinam, Nambol, Bishnupur, Ningthoukhong, Moirang and Kumbi downed shutters and passenger carriers ceased service.

Educational institutions remained shut for two days while attendance at government offices was thin.

No untoward incident, however, was reported and the general strike culminated peacefully.

The 48-hour state-wide agitation was called by COCOMI in protest against the removal of the state's name from a government bus.

Several women bandh supporters stopped vehicles of central security forces in different parts of Bishnupur and Thoubal districts and pasted "Manipur/ Kangleipak" on the windshields of security vehicles.

Kangleipak is the ancient name of Manipur.

On Friday morning roadside vegetable vendors had opened their stalls at Andro Parking, Kongba and Khurai areas in Imphal East district but bandh supporters told them to close their stalls.

Bandh supporters enforced the bandh at Uripok, Singjamei and Kwakeithel in Imphal West district.

On Thursday night bandh supporters staged a torch rally for 2 km and raised slogans stating "Manipur cannot be obliterated" .

Central forces personnel have been deployed at strategic places across all points leading to the Raj Bhavan.

The Manipur government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the allegations that security personnel forced to cover the state's name on a bus taking journalists to the Shirui Lily festival.

As reported, security forces stopped the state-run bus, on which journalists were being taken by the government to cover the tourism festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday, and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper.

The government formed a two-member enquiry committee, and said that it will "examine facts and circumstances involving security personnel and Manipur State Road Transport Bus carrying media persons to cover the Manipur Shirui festival on May 20 near Gwaltabi checkpost", according to an order issued by the Home Department.

"The committee shall look into lapses, if any and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future," it said.

The committee, comprising Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar and Secretary Th Kirankumar Singh, has been asked to submit its report within 15 days, it added.

Amid outrage over the incident, COCOMI called a 48-hour general strike from Wednesday midnight, and demanded an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the resignation of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh and Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh.

"The decision to have Manipur removed from a state bus itself is anti-Manipur, absolutely challenges the idea of Manipur and its historical and cultural identity," COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said.

"The people of Manipur demand to know under whose authority the decision was taken.

It should be clarified to the public within 48 hours," he added.

The Shirui Lily festival is being held after a gap of two years as the state, ravaged by ethnic clashes between Meeteis and Kuki-Zo community, limps back to normalcy amid the President's Rule, which was imposed in February following the resignation of N Biren Singh as the chief minister.