Imphal: Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Sunday appealed to civil society organisations and protest groups to call off the five-day statewide shutdown, cautioning that the agitation would severely disrupt daily life across the state.
The shutdown, which began on April 19, has been called by several groups, including a Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the Tronglaobi incident, along with civil society organisations and Meira Paibi groups. The protest comes amid mounting demands for justice following a recent bomb attack.
Speaking to the media at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Konthoujam said the government has already held three rounds of talks with the JAC and the victim’s family. He noted that agreement has been reached on most of the demands, with only a few issues still pending.
The minister said that during a meeting on April 17, the government outlined a series of measures, including a military crackdown within two months. He also announced plans to replace central forces with state forces in the Tronglaobi area of Bishnupur district within the same timeframe, and in P. Gelmol within a week. Additionally, central forces are to be deployed near the Jal Jeevan Mission water supply site at Chingdamba Farmland under Moirang subdivision.
The government has urged protestors to withdraw road blockades and other forms of agitation, and to accept the bodies of the deceased, which are currently in the morgue, to allow for last rites.
Konthoujam further said that a government job has been offered to Oinam Mangalngamba, father of the two children killed in the Tronglaobi attack, in line with his current position in the Border Security Force. A similar offer has also been extended to his wife.
He added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend all those involved in the attack. So far, five suspected members linked to the United Kuki National Army have been arrested, and the investigation remains underway.
Reiterating his appeal for restraint, the minister said the shutdown would impact all sections of society and urged the JAC and allied groups to reconsider their decision.
The five-day shutdown is being enforced across Manipur till April 23, with women’s groups and civil society organisations intensifying their demand for swift action. Protestors have set a deadline of April 25 for the arrest of all those involved, warning of stronger agitation if their demands are not met.
Key demands include the arrest of all perpetrators, a crackdown on suspected Kuki militants, replacement of central forces with state forces in peripheral areas, and a judicial inquiry into the role of certain security units. The JAC has also alleged negligence by personnel of the 8 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force stationed at P. Gelmol and the 2nd Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry deployed at Tronglaobi.