Manipur shutdown disrupts life after minors killed in Bishnupur attack

Guwahati: Normal life was affected in Manipur’s valley districts on Monday, the second day of a five-day shutdown called by civil society groups to press their demand for strict action against people responsible for a bomb attack in Bishnupur district that killed two minors. Separately, Naga organisations announced a three-day shutdown starting Monday midnight.

The Manipur government has appealed to protesters to withdraw the five-day total shutdown, stating that it has severely disrupted normal life in the state, with common people bearing the brunt of it.

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Educational bodies and markets remained closed, while public transport remained off the roads in all valley districts and Naga-inhabited areas, officials said. Sit-ins against the killings were held at various parts of the state.

The state has been witnessing protests since April 7, when the children were killed after a mortar shell struck their house at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai near Moirang in Bishnupur district. Groups of women have also been holding night-time protests defying curfew restrictions, triggering confrontations with security forces.

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Valley-based civil society group Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity has announced a boycott of all BJP-related activities in Manipur.

Manipur minister K Govindas Singh said that out of 272 companies of CAPF deployed in Manipur, 88 have been withdrawn due to Bengal polls.