Bandh disrupts normal life, sit-in continues
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 10 2023: The 33-hour state-wide bandh/public curfew called by the JAC formed in connection with the missing case of teenagers Maibam Avinash and Nongthoujam Anthony of Akham Awang Leikai, Lamsang from 4am on Friday till 1pm Saturday disrupted the barely-restored normal life in the state.

Bandh supporters blocked the roads and prevented vehicular movement at many locations.

Passenger carriers ceased service for the day, while the otherwise busy Khwairamband market wore a deserted look with all shops closed.

The protestors also burned used tyres on the roads and set up makeshift barricades, in addition to squatting down on the roads along Lamsang-Mayang Langjing, Uripok-Kangchup Road, Sagolband, Nagamapal and Singjamei.

All roads leading to Naoremthong Laishram Leirak on Uripok-Kangchup Road, Naoremthong, Uripok Achom Leikai and Uripok Surbon Thingel were also blocked.

With organisations and people of Thoubal and surrounding areas extending full support to the bandh, shops in Thoubal market and other smaller markets remained closed along with educational institutions, while the roads remained deserted with only few private vehicles seen moving.

Volunteers of Meitei Community Joint Coordinating Com mittee-Waithou, Kiyam, Kiyam Siphai, Haokha & Waithou made commuters passing through Kiyam Babu Bazar along National Highway-102 to return back, while setting fire to tyres on the road.

Meanwhile, Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak Panthoibi Meira Marup staged a sit-in protest on Friday, demanding the government to trace the whereabouts of Maibam Avinash and Ningthoujam Anthony, who went missing on November 5.During the sit-in, the protestors held placards inscribed with slogans like 'We condemn kidnapping of students', and 'Govt should trace whereabouts of Avinash and Anthony' .

A similar sit-in protest was also staged by Awang Konjeng Leikai Women Association on Friday.

Kongpal Social Development Organisation (KSDO) and Kongpal Khaidem Leikai Apunba Nupi Lup also organised sit-in protest at Kongpal Khaidem Leikai market shed on Friday, urging the government to find the two missing students at the earliest.

In view of the bandh, public transport remained off the roads, and educational institutes, oil pumps, banks, and business establishments in the heart of Imphal city remained closed.

Extending support to the bandh, the 10 opposition parties - AAP, AIFB, AITC, CPI, CPI (M), INC, JD(U), NCP, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), and RSP, have warned of strong agitation together with the people for early rescue of the two missing students Maibam Avinash and Ningthoujam Anthony who have been missing after driving towards Kangpokpi district, which is marked as red zone in the northern part of the state.

Emergency services including media, water supplies, pharmacy, medical, and fire services are being exempted from the purview of the bandh.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) Manipur State unit president Toijam Devananda, on behalf of the ten opposition political parties, said that the government has failed to protect the citizens repeatedly.

He stated that the whereabouts of two students Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit are still unknown.

In the same vein, neither the state nor the central government has succeeded in finding the whereabouts of Ningthoujam Anthony, 19, and Maibam Avinash, 14, to date.

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