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Bandh Shuts Manipur’s Valley as Government Presses Ahead With Sangai Festival

A 24-hour shutdown by a proscribed outfit halted Imphal, highlighting fury over reviving the event before displaced families are resettled.

Overview

  • Movement across Imphal and valley districts was paralysed on Wednesday after the KCP-MC enforced a 24-hour bandh, with only essential services allowed.
  • Despite the disruption, the state confirmed the Sangai Festival will run November 21–30 in Imphal and urged residents to participate to support economic recovery.
  • COCOMI called a mass sit-in on November 20 and a ‘cease-work, stay-at-home’ strike on November 21, arguing the celebration is insensitive to thousands still in relief camps.
  • The government says it spends ₹18 crore a month on IDP support and cites a ₹523 crore Special Relief Package from the Centre, including ₹180 crore for housing and ₹250 crore to rebuild public assets.
  • The Manipur Congress backed the boycott, and the Governor convened a closed-door meeting with MLAs and officials as security deployments intensified around the festival venue.