Imphal: In a state which is already reeling under COVID impact, an 18-hour total shutdown called by the banned outfits hit normal life on Thursday.
The general strike was called by Co-ordination Committee (CorCom) and other state-based outfits to commemorate ‘National Black Day’, which is observation in protest against the forced merger of Manipur into the India Union.
The strike caused Imphal to come to a standstill, as residents remained indoors. Vehicular movement was also hit.
All shops in major markets like Paona bazaar and Thangal bazaar remained closed in response to the shutdown.
Despite medical services being exempted from the purview of the strike, most medical stores and drug stores were closed in Imphal areas, which affected customers and patients in need of medication.
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Moreover, to avoid any unwanted law and order escalation towards the general strike, police personnel and security forces were deployed across Imphal.
For years banned outfits in the state have observed October 15 as ‘National Black Day’ to protest the Manipur’s Merger Agreement signed between Maharaja Bodhachandra of Manipur and Government of India in Shillong on October 15, 1949.
CorComm said that it has been 66 years since Manipur was annexed by India under duress, however, India continues to flout the people’s right to self-determination.
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