Manipur in Chaos: 24-Hour Shutdown in Valley Districts After Reports of Abduction and Killings

Manipur in Chaos: 24-Hour Shutdown in Valley Districts After Reports of Abduction and Killings

Imphal, Manipur, [Date] - Normal life has been severely disrupted in five to six Imphal valley districts as part of a 24-hour total shutdown enforced by civil society organisations protesting the reported abduction of six people from the Meitei community in Jiribam district.

The shutdown, which began at 6 pm on Tuesday, was organised by 13 civil society organisations, including Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) and Peoples' Action for National Democratic Movement (PAMDM), as a mark of protest against the abduction. The organisations are demanding immediate rescue operations to locate the six missing persons who were reportedly kidnapped by suspected Kuki militants.

The security forces have been conducting an extensive search operation to nab fleeing militants and rescue the untraced persons, but so far, no breakthrough has been reported.

According to reports, two bodies of Laishram Balen and Maibam Kesho, both belonging to the Meitei community, were recovered from the Jakuradhor Karong area in Jiribam district where houses and shops were set on fire by suspected militants on Monday.

Police said that several villagers were staying at a relief camp near the Borobekra Police Station when the incident occurred. The six missing persons are believed to be members of the same family, according to local media reports.

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of the Meitei community, has also demanded immediate "rescue" of the untraced people, alleging negligence by both state and central forces leading to the abduction.

In response to the shutdown, the Punjab army has been deployed to the region to maintain law and order. The Central and state security forces are patrolling vulnerable, sensitive, and mixed-population areas of Jiribam district, where a curfew has been clamped for an indefinite period to prevent further escalation of violence.

The situation in Manipur remains volatile, with several civil society organisations demanding immediate action from the government to address the grievances of the Meitei community.