Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 3: Businesses and educational institutions in Manipur will remain closed on Saturday as Meitei and Kuki-Zomi groups have called for a bandh to commemorate the second anniversary of the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023.

Student organisations from the Kuki-Zomi community, including the Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) and the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), have announced a complete shutdown of educational institutions and business establishments. The day will be observed in silence to honor those who lost their lives or were displaced during the violent conflict.

As part of the remembrance, residents in Kuki-dominated areas are urged to hoist black flags at their homes. A commemorative event, titled "Separation Day," is also planned by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) in Churachandpur district.

Meanwhile, in the Imphal Valley, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which represents Meitei civil society, has called for a public observance by halting daily activities and attending the Manipur People’s Convention in the state capital.

Security forces have been deployed throughout the state to prevent any untoward incidents as tensions remain high. The violence, which began in May 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 260 people and displaced thousands, with the conflict ongoing between the Meiteis of the valley and the Kuki-Zomi tribes of the hills.

Earlier this year, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid growing pressure, and the state was placed under President’s Rule, with the Manipur Legislative Assembly still in suspended animation, though its term is set to run until 2027.