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Imphal wears a deserted look after the day-long bandh called by National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) on September 21. (NNN Photo)
Newmai News Network
Imphal | September 21
A day-long bandh called by National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) to protest the alleged forced merger of Manipur into Indian Union in 1949 hit normal life in Manipur on September 21.
NRFM alleged that the erstwhile Maharaja of Manipur was forced to sign the Merger Agreement with the Union of India under duress at Shillong on this day (September 21) in 1949.
Normal life was affected at various parts of the valley districts as shops, markets and business establishments in most areas remained closed, fearing backlash.
Educational institutions, financial institutions remained close for the day and government offices registered a thin attendance. ATM booths of some banks were also remained downed shutters.
Except some short distance passenger service auto-rickshaw, almost all other commercial vehicles including long and short distance passenger service stayed off the road.
In the streets nearby the market areas of Imphal, a few vegetable vendors were seen selling their wares.
They have a dull business as very less customers came out to buy their wares even as security personnel were seen deploying at every nooks and corners and sensitive areas of the state capital.
However, no untoward incident was reported during the general strike hours, according to the police.
As part of the occasion, several civil society organisations organised discussion programmes on the Merger Agreement.
One such discussion was organised jointly by United People’s Front (UPF) Manipur and Apunba Manipur Kanba Lup (AMKIL) in Imphal’s Lamyanba Shanglen in which many resource persons talked on the pros and cons of Manipur under the Indian Union.
