CorCom announces 12-hr shutdown
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 10 2026: The CorCom has announced a 12-hour total shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm on October 15 across Manipur (Kanglei-pak).

A statement issued by the CorCom Publicity Committee said that medical services, emergency services, media and religious functions will be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.

It said that CorCom and the people of Manipur have been observing October 15 as National Black Day every year in protest against the annexation of Manipur (Kangleipak) by India on October 15, 1949 in total violation of the Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties-1969, Manipur State Constitution Act 1947 and the Indian Independence Act 1947 .

It said that the way king Bodhchandra was forced to sign the Manipur Merger Agreement on September 21, 1949 at Redlands, Shillong under house arrest and at gunpoint was an act of aggression, and the destruction of the Redlands building on October 8 and 9, 2025 was an unmistakable act of annexation.

Since 1,100 AD, Manipur existed as an independent united Nation of both the hill people and plain people under a political constitution.

There was a huge inconsistency between the British and Congress on the interpretations of native State.

The Congress interpreted native States as those States which were under Mughal, Sikh and Maratha empires but Manipur was beyond this interpretation.

Again, Manipur did not come under Sardar Patel's "blood relation" State.

Manipur was a separate State like Burma and Sri Lanka, if viewed from the Congress' interpretation of native State, CorCom said.

As it had adopted a political Constitution, Manipur, though an international protectorate, was an autonomous State in 1947 .

As per the Standstill Agreement and the Accession Treaty signed on August 11, 1947, Manipur (Kangleipak) was an associate State barring three subjects viz; defence, external affairs and communication.

Again, according to clause 7/8 of the Accession Treaty, a State had not lost its sovereignty even after signing the treaty.

One particular clause of the Instrument of Accession says, "Nothing in this Instrument shall be deemed to commit me (king of Manipur/Kangleipak) in any way to acceptance of any future Constitution of India or to fetter my discretion to enter into arrangements with Government of India under any such future constitution" .

Again, clause 8 says, "Nothing in this Instrument affects the continuance of my sovereignty in and over this State, or serve as provided by or under this Instrument, the exercise of any powers, authority and rights now enjoyed by me as Ruler of this State", CorCom quoted.

In addition, any treaty executed between representatives of two Nations should be ratified by the National Parliaments of the two countries.

If the National Parliament of any of the two countries does not ratify the agreement or treaty, the treaty is not valid, according to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, it said.

With the first sitting of its National Assembly on October 18, 1948 under its own Constitution, Manipur (Kangleipak) undoubtedly became a sovereign Nation.

The annexation of Manipur by India on October 15, 1949 was strongly opposed by the then people's elected Government, people of both the hills and the valley, several political parties and leftist movements.

Today too, several organisations have been opposing the annexation and waging an armed liberation movement, it said.

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