Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh on Monday appealed for the withdrawal of the ongoing five-day total shutdown, stating that it has severely disrupted normal life and affected common people the most.
He said that discussions are already in progress with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) regarding the Bishnupur incident, where two minor children were killed in a night attack. The Chief Minister emphasized that the government has not rejected any of the demands raised by the JAC and expressed sympathy for their cause. However, he noted that the shutdown was called suddenly while talks were ongoing.
Highlighting the impact, he said daily wage earners and small vendors, especially women like “Ema” vegetable sellers, are facing serious hardships due to the shutdown.
Meanwhile, COCOMI announced a boycott of all BJP-related activities in the state, criticizing the government for being disconnected from ground realities and lacking proper engagement with civil society groups.
At the same time, the Manipur government has issued strict instructions directing all employees to attend office duties despite the shutdown starting April 20, linked to the Tronglaobi incident.
An urgent order from the Chief Secretary’s office directed all Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments to ensure attendance in offices, including subordinate offices. Deputy Commissioners have also been instructed to monitor attendance and ensure normal functioning of government offices.
The order warns that disciplinary action will be taken against employees who remain absent without authorized leave.
The shutdown has been called by the Joint Action Committee, Meira Paibis, and several civil society organizations demanding justice in the Tronglaobi incident.
