Imphal, Sept 19: Normal life in the Imphal Valley of Manipur was disrupted as Meira Paibi, a collective of Meitei women, and five local clubs called for a 48-hour bandh to demand the release of five youths arrested for carrying firearms and wearing camouflage uniforms.
The bandh, which began at midnight, saw markets, shops, and business establishments closed, with very few vehicles on the roads during the morning hours.
The supplementary examinations for all subjects of the class 10 board exams, scheduled for the day, were canceled due to the bandh. The Board of Secondary Education, Manipur, will announce a new schedule for the exams soon.
On Monday, Meira Paibis blocked several important roads in various districts, demanding the release of the detained youths.
The arrests were made on September 16 when Manipur Police conducted an operation and apprehended five individuals found in possession of sophisticated weaponry and wearing camouflage uniforms. Legal proceedings were initiated against these individuals.
However, following the arrests, a large number of people gathered to protest and attempted to besiege the Porompat Police Station, demanding the release of the detained individuals. In response to the escalating situation, joint security forces used tear gas to disperse the crowd, resulting in minor injuries, including one Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel.
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The 48-hour bandh is a response to these arrests and reflects the concerns of various local groups regarding the incident.
The situation is being closely monitored by authorities, and efforts are being made to restore normalcy in the affected areas while addressing the demands of the protesters.
