48 hour bandh hits normal life
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal/Bishnupur, September 20 2023: The second day of 48-hour bandh imposed demanding unconditional release of five village defence volunteers impacted normal life across the valley districts of the State.

Thoubal

A large number of bandh supporters imposed the bandh by blocking roads at various locations and chanted slogans demanding unconditional release of the five arrested individuals.

Locals, mainly womenfolk, came out in large numbers and obstructed vehicular movements across the district.

Prominent market places, shops, educational institutions and other establishments remained shut for the second day.

48 hour bandh hits normal life

With just few vehicles mostly of essential and medical services plying on the roads, Thoubal district bore a deserted look.

Supporting the bandh, members of SEDO Club, Yairipok Bazar obstructed movements at Yairipok Thong and raised slogans urging for release of the five arrested persons.

Similarly, Thoubal Kshetrileikai Apunba Meira Paibis blocked the road from Thoubal to Yairipok passing through Kshetrileikai.

One of the bandh supporters appealed to the authorities concerned not to apprehend village volunteers and harass them in view of the ongoing crisis in the State.

Denouncing the alleged biased attitude meted out to the people in the valleys, she called upon the Central and State Government to treat everyone equally as Indian citizens.

She also appealed to all concerned to impose equal restrictions in both the hills and valley regions of the State and demanded immediate release of the five arrested persons.

A large number of Meira Paibis blocked movement of people and vehicles along Thoubal Athokpam and Thoubal Thong along National Highway 102, Charangpat Imoinu Keithel along the road from Thoubal till Nongpok Sekmai, Lilong Keithel, Yairipok Huidrom Leikai and Tentha.

Similar protests were also held at Pourabi Pukhri Achouba and Pourabi Makha Leikai.

The protestors demanded immediate and unconditional release of the five arrested individuals and warned of intense agitation if the demand is not fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Athokpam Nupi Tengbanglup staged a sit-in protest at Athokpam Mayai Leikai Community Hall today demanding unconditional release of the five village volunteers.

Slogans demanding release of the five village volunteers and safeguarding of Manipur's integrity echoed during the protest.

Bishnupur

The 48-hour bandh also hit normal life in Bishnupur district.

Due to the bandh, functioning of inter district, inter village and local passengers were severely impacted.

Major market places in the district like Nambol Keithel, Oinam Keithel, Bishnupur Keithel, Ningthoukhong Keithel, Moirang Keithel, Moirang Lamkhai and Kumbi Keithel remained shut.

Schools and colleges were closed and some private schools also postponed their scheduled examinations.

However, there is no report of any untoward incident in Bishnupur due to the bandh today.

It is worth noting that a combined team of State Police arrested the five individuals on the charge of carrying arms and ammunitions and donning the police uniforms on September 16 .

The arrested persons were produced before the Duty Magistrate Imphal East on September 17 and remanded into Police custody till September 22 .