Imphal: Normal life was disrupted across Manipur’s five valley districts on Tuesday as markets, banks and schools remained closed during a 48-hour statewide strike called to protest the killing of three Meitei firewood collectors by suspected militants.
Civil society groups called the shutdown after the three men were killed at Sunurok hills in Kangpokpi district on Monday. Authorities increased security across the state, including in Imphal.
Public transport remained off the roads, while only a few private vehicles were seen in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching districts.
The Native People’s Committee Manipur called a 48-hour shutdown, while the Ireipak Kanba Apunba Lup launched a separate 24-hour strike that ended at midnight on Tuesday.
Protesters blocked major roads and held demonstrations across the valley. The protests followed a night of unrest in which tyres were set on fire in Kwakeithel, Chingmeirong and Khurai Lamlong.
Security officials said no fresh incidents were reported on Tuesday morning despite the demonstrations.
Early Tuesday, unidentified miscreants set fire to six Kuki-owned houses in Patleijang, a hamlet in Ukhrul district.
The shutdown had a limited impact in the hill areas. A convoy of 136 supply trucks left Jiribam district for Imphal along National Highway 37.
Essential services, including media, fire services, medical services, water supplies and religious ceremonies, were exempted from the shutdown.
The latest unrest adds to the ethnic conflict that began in May 2023. The conflict has claimed at least 380 lives, left 49 people missing and displaced thousands.
Tensions have also increased since the first week of February following separate clashes between Kuki and Naga communities.