Rebels’ call for total bandh ahead of Prez’s visit to Mnp

Security has been beefed up in restive Manipur, particularly in Imphal, the capital city ahead of India’s President Droupadi Murmu is arrival in Imphal on Thursday (December 11) on a two-day visit amid general strikes called given by armed rebel groups boycotting the visit.
The President is scheduled to arrive in the afternoon, marking her first visit to the state since the unfolding of the violent crisis more than two and a half years ago in May 2023.
Apart from attending some events in Imphal, Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to visit the hill district of Senapati. Though officials kept the itinerary under wraps citing security reasons, as per the media invitation card, the state government is organizing a civic reception in honour of the President in Imphal’s City Convention Centre where she will also lay foundation stone and inaugurate various developmental projects.
On day two, Murmu is scheduled to proceed to Senapati district after attending the observance of “Nupi Lal Day. At Senapati district headquarters, she is likely to attend the opening event of the 4th edition of Barak Festival Officials here said that stages were all set for the visit of the VVIP with beautification and renovation works on all the routes including from Imphal Airport to City Convention Centre were being carried out at break-neck speed.
Billboards and welcome hoardings were put up at prominent locations, particularly along the stretch of the road from Imphal Airport to Palace Compound where the City Convention Centre is located. Resurfacing of roads, repainting medians, lighting upgrades etc. were seen along this stretch till late Wednesday afternoon.
Security has been tightened across the capital city and its outskirts, particularly in the sensitive areas ahead of the VVIP’s arrival.
Notably, Coordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of six armed rebel groups resorting to armed struggle to regain what they claim loss sovereignty of erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur and National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) have called separate ‘total shutdowns’ in the state during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit.
While giving the total shutdown call from 1 am on the day of the President’s arrival till she leaves Manipur, CorCom alleged that the proposed visit of Droupadi Murmu to the state was not intended to bring peace and development in Manipur but consolidating the alleged colonial rule in the erstwhile Kingdom. Manipur has been already devastated by the Government of India’s proxy war and its policy of creating animosity among communities, it alleged.
Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) extended welcome to the President’s visit while urging her attention to the continued plight of Kuki-Zo communities displaced by ongoing conflict.
In a statement widely circulated on the internet, the council said the visit “carries deep significance and offers hope to many who continue to live with the scars of the ongoing conflict.”
The KZC expressed respect for President Murmu, noting her understanding of the struggles, dignity, and identity of tribal communities.
On the other hand, Manipur Ima, a civil society group expressed hope that the President’s visit will pave the way for meaningful action to ease the suffering of people in conflict-affected areas.
Addressing a news conference at Manipur Press Club, Imphal today, its chief convener S Kulla Mangang said that the body has urged the President to take up a concrete policy for the safe return of IDPs to their respective localities, in a memorandum submitted through the state Governor today.
He added that the people of Manipur look to the President’s intervention with hope, expecting meaningful steps towards relief and restoration for those affected by the conflict.