Manipur grinds to a halt as black day shutdown over 1949 merger disrupts normal life

Normal life was severely disrupted across Manipur on October 15 as a 12-hour statewide shutdown called by the Coordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella body of banned insurgent groups, brought markets, public transport and educational institutions to a standstill to mark the anniversary of the state's merger with India in 1949.

The shutdown began at 6 am and was scheduled to conclude at 6 pm. Markets, shops and business establishments remained closed, while passenger vehicles, including interstate transport services, largely stayed off the roads.

Streets in Imphal and other towns wore a deserted look, with only a few private and emergency vehicles seen plying.

Major commercial hubs, including Khwairamband Ima Market, Paona Market and Thangal Market, remained shut. Educational institutions and private offices were also closed, adding to the disruption of daily activities.

Medical and emergency services, media operations and religious functions were exempted from the shutdown.

No untoward incident had been reported till the time of filing this report.
October 15 is observed as “National Black Day” by CorCom and other banned insurgent outfits to protest Manipur's merger with the Indian Union.

The Merger Agreement was signed by Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh and representatives of the Government of India in Shillong on September 21, 1949, and came into effect on October 15 that year.

The insurgent outfits claim that the merger deprived Manipur of its sovereignty and observe the day annually to oppose the state's integration with India.