SENAPATI, Aug 15: Manipur witnessed multiple shutdown calls on Independence Day on Saturday, with Naga civil society organisations and the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP)-Apunba separately calling for a boycott of celebrations across parts of the state.
The United Naga Council (UNC) announced a 24-hour emergency total shutdown from 11 pm on August 14 to 11 pm on August 15 across Naga districts and Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur following the killing of two Naga Village Guards in an alleged attack by KNF-P on August 14.
The UNC condemned the killings, which it said took place on the occasion of Naga Independence Day observed in Naga-inhabited areas, calling the incident a challenge to the Naga people and their asserted right to self-determination.
The Naga People’s Organisation, Senapati District, has endorsed the UNC call and said it would implement the shutdown in the district.
The shutdown comes amid wider opposition among Naga organisations to participation in Indian Independence Day celebrations. The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) had earlier announced a boycott of official programmes.
The TKS directed educational institutions under its jurisdiction not to participate in Independence Day programmes and announced a shutdown until noon on August 15. TKS president Ramreichan Keishing said opposition to the full stanza of Vande Mataram had spread to Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.
Separately, the banned KCP-Apunba called for a 24-hour shutdown across Manipur from midnight on August 14, urging people to boycott Independence Day observances. The outfit cited Manipur’s political history and linked the call to Patriots’ Day.
Under the shutdown calls, shops, offices, business establishments and institutions are expected to remain closed, while essential services such as medical and fire services have been exempted.
The organisations have appealed to people to observe the shutdown peacefully and cooperate with the calls.
