Bar associations demand explanation from Guv on vehicle restriction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 20 2025: The Governor of the State must answer why a Manipur State Transport vehicle was not allowed to run bearing the name "Manipur" on Imphal-Ukhrul road today, the All Manipur Bar Association and the High Court Bar Association of Manipur have demanded.

This, after a MST bus carrying journalists to Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul was stopped at Gwaltabi area by Maha Regiment personnel and forced to conceal with tapes "Manipur State Transport" displayed on the front of the vehicle.

The journalists protested the restriction imposed and the rationale behind the forceful concealment of the words "Manipur State Transport" displayed on the vehicle.

In protest, the journalists then returned to Imphal.

In a press meet held at the High Court of Manipur complex today, All Manipur Bar Association president P Tomcha Meetei said that the incident occurred today was unprecedented and highly condemnable.

When the State transport vehicle is not allowed to run bearing the name "Manipur" within Manipur, how is the Centre going to enforce "free movement" in the State? The Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Security Advisor Kuldeip Singh and the Director General of Police (DGP), Rajiv Singh must answer this to the public, Tomcha said.

The Central security force, Maha Regiment forcing the journalists to hide the name "Manipur" displayed on the bus was a communally charged action that undermined the State's integrity, he said.

Apart from forcefully concealing the name "Manipur" written on the bus, the Maha Regiment instructed the journalists to cover the vehicle number plate.

This action of the Central security force was spiteful and it was aimed at fuelling further tension between communities and sustaining the ongoing conflict, Tomcha said.

This blatant display of insensitivity and mockery of the State's authority calls for a thorough investigation.

An FIR must be registered against the Maha Regiment, and the Manipur Government's Department of Transport must take appropriate actions and not remain silent, Tomcha said.

Further, the Central security force responsible for the incident at Gwaltabi today must be replaced for their partiality and lack of sensitivity.

A neutral force which wouldn't take sides must be deployed in their place, Tomcha added.

Speaking to reporters, High Court Bar Association of Manipur president, Senior Advocate Y Nimolchand Singh stated that the legal fraternity will take legal action regarding the incident at Gwaltabi.

Meanwhile, several other organisations including Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) and Manipur Loumi Lup have condemned the Gwaltabi incident in the strongest terms.

FOCS, in a statement, said that the incident at Gwaltabi is a clear failure of the Governor-led State Government.

Forcing the vehicle to not display the word "Manipur" has caused apprehension among the people that the demand that has been raised for a separate administration may be given.

People have apprehension whether the popular Government was removed and President's Rule was imposed as a way to give Chin-Kuki-Zo their demand, FOCS said.

Further, the incident at Gwaltabi was a disturbance to the grand celebration of the Shirui Lily festival.

Strict actions must be taken up against the security forces which hindered the movement of the press and disturbed the festival, it added.

The Manipur Loumi Lup asserted that the Central security force's action at Gwaltabi reflects their alleged support for the Kuki-Zo terrorists.

The Central security force forcing the journalists to conceal Manipur written on the State transport bus was outrightly disrespectful to the people of the State, it said.

The Lup further asserted that the Maha Regiment is not new to such controversial actions.

The Regiment was also involved in other incidents where it had allegedly taken sides and acted in partiality against the Meiteis, it added.

Appropriate actions must be taken up against the personnel involved, and the Commanding Officer of the Regiment must be held responsible, it said.

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