IMPHAL: In Manipur, a 33-hour state-wide shutdown has disrupted daily life, particularly in the Meitei-dominated valley regions. The public shutdown, which took place from 4 am on Friday to 1 pm on Saturday, was imposed by a Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in response to the disappearance of two teenagers from Imphal earlier in the week.
The two missing teenagers, Avinash Maibam (16) and Anthony Ningthoujam (19), failed to return home in Imphal West after departing for Sekmai to attend an event on a Sunday morning. This incident triggered widespread concern and led to the imposition of the shutdown.
In reaction to the shutdown, supporters took to the streets, blocking roads and highways, disrupting all forms of vehicular movement, including inter-state and inter-district passenger services. Business establishments and educational institutions across the region remained closed during the public shutdown. Even the bustling Ima Keithel (mothers market) in Imphal presented a deserted appearance as all its shops remained shuttered.
Fotunately, there were no reported untoward incidents during the period of the shutdown as of the time of this report.
Two days after the disappearance of the two Meitei youths, four members of the Kuki-Zo community, including a relative of an Indian Army personnel, were abducted near the border between Kangpokpi and Imphal West. Later that day, police discovered two bodies in Imphal, suspecting them to be linked to the four missing individuals. However, the identities of the recovered deceased man and woman remain unknown, adding to the prevailing mystery and tension.
This unrest occurs against the backdrop of longstanding ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, resulting in over 180 casualties and hundreds injured since the eruption on May 3. The situation raises significant concerns for the region's stability and communal harmony, emphasizing the urgent need for resolution and peace-building efforts.
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