IMPHAL, Nov. 13: Life in Manipur came to a halt on Wednesday as a 24-hour shutdown, organized by a coalition of 13 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), brought the state’s main markets, schools, colleges, and offices to a standstill.
The shutdown, which started 6 pm on Tuesday till 6 pm on Wednesday, was called in protest against the state government’s failure to address escalating violence that has worsened tensions and displaced communities across the region.
Nahakpam Santa, a key representative of the coalition, criticized the state government for its inaction, accusing it of failing to protect the indigenous Meitei population from ongoing attacks. He demanded that the government present a clear plan to restore peace within 24 hours.
The CSOs also raised urgent concerns, urging the government to locate and rescue six missing hostages, including children, allegedly held by armed militants. Furthermore, the CSOs called for justice for Sapam Sophia, a victim of a violent attack on November 9. They warned that if their demands were not met, they would escalate their protests to a larger scale.
