Manipur – Manipur’s Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam has urged civil society groups and protest organisers to call off the ongoing five‑day shutdown, cautioning that the strike is disrupting daily life across the state.
The shutdown, which began on April 19, was initiated by several organisations including a Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed after the Tronglaobi bomb attack, along with Meira Paibi women’s groups and other civil society bodies. Protestors are pressing for swift justice and stronger security measures in the wake of the incident.
Speaking to reporters at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Konthoujam said the government has already held three rounds of talks with the JAC and the victim’s family. He noted that most of the demands have been addressed, with only a few points still under discussion.
During a meeting on April 17, the state assured several steps: a military crackdown within two months, redeployment of state forces in Tronglaobi and P. Gelmol to replace central units, and additional security near the Jal Jeevan Mission water supply site in Moirang subdivision. The minister also appealed to demonstrators to lift road blockades and allow families to perform last rites for victims whose bodies remain in the morgue.
Konthoujam announced that the government has offered employment to Oinam Mangalngamba, father of two children killed in the attack, in line with his current role in the Border Security Force. His wife has also been promised a job.
Authorities have arrested five individuals suspected of links to the United Kuki National Army, and investigations are continuing. The minister stressed that efforts are underway to apprehend all those responsible.
Civil society groups, however, remain firm in their demands. They have set an April 25 deadline for the arrest of all perpetrators and warned of intensified protests if the deadline is not met. Their charter of demands includes a crackdown on suspected Kuki militants, replacement of central forces with state forces in peripheral areas, and a judicial inquiry into alleged lapses by security units stationed in Tronglaobi and P. Gelmol.
The Home Minister appealed for restraint, warning that the shutdown would affect every section of society, and called on organisers to reconsider their decision.
