IMPHAL, May 23: Normal life across Imphal Valley was thrown into disarray for the second consecutive day as a 48-hour general strike called by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) entered its final stretch on Friday. The strike, was launched in protest against the removal of Manipur’s name from a government bus by central forces—an act protesters have dubbed the “Gwaltabi incident.”
The strike resulted in a near-total shutdown across the five valley districts. Business establishments, educational institutions, and both government and private offices remained closed. Public transport services were suspended, with roads largely deserted except for vehicles involved in medical emergencies or those traveling to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district.
The protest intensified Thursday night with a two-kilometer-long torch rally in Khurai, where demonstrators raised slogans like “Manipur cannot be obliterated,” underlining their strong opposition to what they perceive as an attempt to undermine the state’s identity.
To maintain order, security was ramped up across Imphal, especially near sensitive areas such as the Raj Bhavan, the governor’s residence. Central forces have been deployed at key points to prevent escalation and ensure peace during the remainder of the bandh.
The COCOMI strike has highlighted deep-seated regional tensions and sparked renewed public discourse over state identity and administrative actions perceived as diminishing it.
