IMPHAL, Nov 19: A 24 hour general strike called by a proscribed outfit in Manipur against the holding of the annual Sangai tourism festival affected normal life in Imphal valley districts on Wednesday.
Kangleipak Communist Party (MC Progressive) called the bandh from 12 am on Wednesday to protest organising of the festival without resolving the conflict in the state.
Markets and business establishments remained closed in five Imphal valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur.
Public transports remained off the roads while classes were called off in schools and colleges. Government offices also recorded low attendance.
No untoward incident has been reported at the time of filing this report.
Sangai festival is being boycotted by internally displaced persons and civil society organisations which demanded the resettlement of IDPs and normalcy in the state.
The Sangai festival scheduled from November 21 is being held after a gap of two years. The festival which seeks to promote tourism and local entrepreuners had been suspended since 2023 after ethnic violence broke out in the state.
(By Our Correspondent)
