Manipur bandh against ‘custodial death’ disrupts daily activities

Imphal: The statewide 24-hour bandh, protesting the alleged custodial death of a 27-year-old man, disrupted daily activities in Imphal valley on Friday.
Commercial establishments remained closed, impacting business operations during the bandh. The day passed without any reports of untoward incidents or violence. Schools and educational institutions stayed shut, while public transport services were largely absent from Imphal city roads.
A Joint Action Committee organised the bandh from Thursday midnight, following the ‘custodial death' of Khoisnam Sanajaoba.
Demonstrators in Khurai constituency, Sanajaoba's hometown, obstructed roads and set fire to discarded tyres to ensure bandh compliance.
Authorities maintained stringent security measures in the state capital and sensitive areas of Imphal East.
On Thursday, the Manipur administration implemented restrictive orders in sections of Imphal East district before the planned 24-hour statewide bandh. The JAC sought a fair probe into Khoisnam's alleged ‘custodial death'.
After receiving no governmental response to their memorandum submitted to the Manipur governor on April 17 containing specific demands, the committee proceeded with the bandh call.
The JAC, alongside local clubs and Meira Paibis, continues to conduct sit-in protests demanding a thorough investigation into the death.
According to the JAC, Khoisnam served as a ‘village volunteer' before his arrest on March 31 with four others, allegedly linked to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party.
Following his transfer to Manipur Central Jail at Sajiwa on April 10, Khoisnam was admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences on April 13, where he was subsequently declared dead.