Manipuris protest shutdown call by militant groups

The Coordinating Committee of six Manipur-based militant groups (CarCom) and the Tripura-based National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) recently called for an 18-hour-long shutdown, which disrupted normal life in the region.

The protest was against the merger of Manipur and Tripura into Indian union in October 1949.

However, people in Manipur condemned the protest as undemocratic, and added that they have already suffered from the frequent acts of violence carried out by militant outfits.

The worst affected by such strikes are daily wagers, whose livelihood depends on daily trade and commercial activities in the region.

Janalu-Abdin, a rickshaw driver, said that these frequent shutdowns severely affects their livelihood.

"We are earning on daily basis and such strikes affect us a lot. Even though they have called this bandh, I came out to earn for the day," he said.

Ch Koba Singh, a local, also said that people face a lot of problems during such strikes.

Business establishments and shops were forced to down their shutters, which affected their trade activities.

Passengers traveling in Manipur and Tripura also faced problems, as the inter-district bus service was suspended.

This is not the first time that insurgent outfits have called a bandh. Such frequent imposition of shutdowns and strikes creates major problems for the general public.