Shut down, disobedience movement hit normal life in Imphal

Khwamband Keithel, the main market in Imphal including the iconic Nupi Keithel (women’s markets) wore a desolate look

IMPHAL — Normal life in Manipur state capital Imphal on Saturday was affected following simultaneous shutdown called by women vendors of Imphal and ‘People’s Disobedience Movement’ by women group.

Khwamband Keithel, the main market in Imphal including the iconic Nupi Keithel (women’s markets) wore a desolate look since early morning, while movement of passenger service vehicles were off the road except private ones.

The commercial areas of Imphal town where the shops, banks and other establishments were located also remained closed in view of the shutdown.

Meanwhile, most of the educational institutions run by the state government and private authorities also remained closed today in view of the shutdown and disobedience movement.

It may be mentioned that the shutdown in Imphal markets was called by women vendors of four women markets in Imphal to condemn the fresh violence at Naransena and Thamnapokpi in Manipur’s Bishnupur district. They have expressed condolences to all those who died in the violence.

The fresh violence started on Tuesday after armed miscreants from the hills shot a farmer at his rice fields at Naransena area. The farmer sustained a bullet injury but survived.

Till date, six people were killed and more than a dozen others including two security men were injured in the fresh violence.

On the other hand, women folks held sit in protest on Saturday at various places in and around Imphal as part the ‘People’s Disobedience Movement’ launched by the Committee on Mass Protest against Assam Rifles to protest both state and central government’s alleged inability to pay due attention to the violent crisis besieging Manipur since May 3.

“As both the central and state governments have shown little respect to the people’s voice, citizens need not obey the government,” said a functionary of the committee on mass protest against Assam Rifles.

During the day’s movement, all employees of the central and state governments were asked to stop attending offices while relaxing the functioning of the essential services.

To avoid any unwanted incidents, the state authorities have deployed armed and unarmed security forces including the central armed police force and Rapid Action Forces (RAF) at strategic locations of the Imphal and its adjoining areas.

Also read: Manipur: 5 killed, 18 injured in gunbattle