Anti-merger bandh hits normal life in valley districts of Manipur

Imphal: A day-long bandh called by National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) to protest the “forced merger of Manipur” into Indian Union in 1949 hit normal life in the valley districts of Manipur on Wednesday.

NRFM alleged that the erstwhile Maharaja of Manipur was forced to sign the merger agreement with the Union of India under at Shillong on this day (September 21) in 1949.

Normal life was affected at various parts in the valley districts as shops, markets and business establishments in most areas remained closed, fearing backlash.

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Educational institutions remained closed for the day and government offices registered a thin attendance. Commercial vehicles including long and short distance passenger service stayed off the road for the day.

Private vehicles were, however, seen moving on the streets in large numbers. No untoward incident reported during the bandh hours. The shutdown, however, did not give impact to the hill districts, except non-arrival of the inter-district commercial vehicles

NRFM, in a statement issued on September 18, accused that the “forced merger has forfeited all the rights of Manipuris.”

NNN

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