IMPHAL, October 14 (NNN): Manipur insurgent umbrella organisation Co-ordination Committee (CorCom) has called an 18-hour state wide general strike tomorrow, October 15, to mark “Amamba Numit” (Black Day) beginning Friday midnight. Former kingdom Manipur became part of India on October 15, 1949 after a merger agreement which CorCom says was signed under state of duress. The group observes this day as Black Day every year to protest the “forceful merger agreement.” All normal activities in business institutes, both government and private establishments, and movement of people on road, sports and entertainment activities will come to halt during the total shutdown call from Friday midnight to 6 pm tomorrow, Saturday, CorCom publicity committee said in a press statement. CorCom is a conglomerate of six active insurgent organisations—Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), its Progressive faction (PREPAK-Pro), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF – the political wing of the People’s Liberation Army – PLA) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF). The outfit appealed to people of Manipur to stay away from all activities on this day and stand united and hope for heralding a new beginning. It said the “forceful merger of Kangleipak (Manipur) by India” after the former kingdom got freedom from the British will ever remain as a feeling of bitterness and anger among people of Manipur. The Manipur Merger Agreement was signed between His Highness Maharaja Bodhachandra of Manipur and representatives of Government of India in Shillong on September 21, 1949. After this, the sovereignty of Manipur was ceded to dominion of India. The then Chief Minister of Manipur, MK Priyobrata convened a session of Manipur Legislative Assembly on September 28, 1949 and passed a resolution to condemn the Merger Agreement and it clearly highlighted “not to abide by the agreement and Manipur will have no relation with India.”
