Imphal: Normal life in the valley areas of Manipur remains affected due to the ongoing 33-hour Statewide Bandh called by Joint Action Committee formed in connection with the missing of two teenage boys from Akham Awang Leikai, Imphal West. The JAC first scheduled the bandh from Friday 4 am till 1 pm but later extend it until Saturday 1 pm against the State government’s failure to trace the whereabouts of the two missing teenage boys despite arresting two suspects in connection with the case.
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The JAC had warned that it will intensify agitations along with CSOs, student bodies and the general public if the State government will not provide a positive response on the whereabouts of the two boys before the culmination of the bandh period.
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Educational institutions, private offices, banks, petrol pumps and commercial establishments are all shut as roads ware a deserted look except for few vehicles plying on emergency on the first day.
Security personnel including Rapid Action Force have been deployed at strategic locations to prevent any unwanted incident during the ongoing bandh period. There is no report of any unwanted incident till the time of filing this report.
Amid the statewide bandh called by the JAC, Manipur hill districts largely remains unaffected.
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On the other hand, firing at various locations under Bishnupur District has been reported since the early hours of Friday. Heavy exchange of fire between armed groups was reported at Tangjeng and Pombikhok in the District leaving at least one village volunteer injured. Security forces have reached the site to neutralise the situation. Further details are awaited.
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