Imphal: Normal life was thrown out of gear in Manipur on Monday during the 12-hour state bandh called by CorCom, an umbrella body of various underground outfits including UNLF and RPF/PLA.
According to reports, shops, commercial establishments and educational institutes remained closed while vehicles, except those belonging to security personnel, were off the roads. Attendance in government offices was also affected because of the bandh. However, no untoward incident was reported till the filing of this report. Emergency services like medical, water supply and the media were exempted from the purview of the bandh.
Every year, the CorCom observes ‘National Black Day’ on October 15 in Manipur as a mark of protest against the ‘merger’ of Manipur into the Indian union.
Urging the people to support the bandh, the umbrella body further said, “It was on October 15, 1949, that India proclaimed the merger of Manipur into the Indian Union.” CorCom has observed the day as ‘National Black Day’ ever since.
The CorCom further claimed that the people of Manipur have been opposing the alleged annexation of Manipur on the reasons that the merger agreement was a deceitful one. CorCom also alleged that King Budhachandra was forced to sign the merger agreement under duress.
