India’s Independence Day marked by shutdown, boycott in strife-torn Manipur
Imphal: Normal life across the strife-torn Indian state of Manipur came to a near-total halt on Saturday as a 24-hour general strike was observed in response to a boycott call against India’s Independence Day celebrations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the shutdown, which began at midnight on August 14, was spearheaded by the Coordination Committee (CorCom) and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP)-Apunba, among other groups.
The strike severely disrupted commercial activity and public movement, with major markets, shops, and private commercial establishments remaining closed. Roads in Imphal and other district headquarters were largely deserted, while commercial transport operators, auto-rickshaws and private vehicles remained off the roads.
Retail fuel outlets across the Imphal valley also remained closed, affecting transportation. Indian forces’ patrols and convoys were among the few vehicles seen on major roads.
In response to the boycott, heavily armed police and paramilitary personnel were deployed at strategic junctions, sensitive areas and other key locations across several districts. Security arrangements were particularly tight in Imphal, where the state-level Independence Day celebrations were held.
The shutdown reflected the continued opposition of several groups to Manipur’s merger with the Indian Union in 1949. The former princely state signed the Merger Agreement with India in October 1949 against the wishes of majority of its people, and groups opposing the merger have continued to organise strikes and other forms of protest over Manipur’s political status.
Notably, Manipur has been engulfed in a protracted ethnic conflict since May 2023, primarily between Hindu-dominated Meitei community and the Christian-majority Kuki community. The violence has claimed over 260 lives, mostly Christians, and displaced approximately 60,000 people, with recurring clashes, arson, and bombings continuing in the region.
