48-Hour Bandh in Manipur

The 48-hour bandh enforced by the Meitei organisation Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in May 2025 brought normal life to a standstill in Manipur's Imphal Valley. The bandh was called to protest the alleged covering of the state’s name "Manipur" from a government bus, reportedly by Central security personnel. The incident triggered a widespread emotional and political response, reflecting deeper tensions tied to ethnic identity, federal relations, and state governance.

Key Issues Emerging from the Incident:

• Identity Politics and Symbolism
  • The removal of the word "Manipur" was perceived as a symbolic erasure of the state's historical and cultural identity.
  • Civil resistance, including the re-pasting of "Manipur/Kangleipak" on vehicles, shows the role of symbolic representation in ethnic mobilisation.
  • This reflects growing assertiveness of regional identities in the face of perceived central neglect or interference.
• Ethnic Fragility and Social Polarisation
  • The bandh occurred against the backdrop of ongoing ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since 2023.
  • Such incidents have the potential to reignite latent ethnic grievances and further deepen fault lines.
  • Women protestors and local groups enforcing shutdowns illustrate grassroots involvement in identity mobilisation.
• Crisis of Governance under President’s Rule
  • The state is currently under President’s Rule (since Feb 2025) following the resignation of former CM N. Biren Singh amid ethnic violence.
  • Absence of elected government has weakened institutional legitimacy and public trust in law enforcement and administration.
  • The demand for resignation of key administrative and police officials indicates public dissatisfaction with bureaucratic accountability mechanisms.
• Civil Society's Expanding Role
  • COCOMI has emerged as a powerful voice for Meitei interests, often engaging in mobilisation, pressuring the administration, and defining public narratives.
  • The bandh illustrates the evolving role of civil society as a counterbalance to state authority in conflict-ridden regions.

Governance and Administrative Implications:

• Central-State Relations
  • The intervention of Central security forces in a sensitive ethnic region without contextual sensitivity can undermine cooperative federalism.
  • It raises questions about command hierarchy, civil-military coordination, and respect for state symbols under Central Rule.
• Rule of Law vs. Popular Sentiment
  • The bandh, while peaceful in parts, led to restrictions on vehicular movement, closure of essential services, and disruption of public life.
  • This reflects a classic governance dilemma between maintaining public order and accommodating popular sentiment in ethnically sensitive areas.
• Administrative Accountability
  • The government’s formation of a two-member inquiry committee shows procedural responsiveness.
  • However, it also highlights the fragile trust between the state machinery and its people, especially when security forces are seen as actors of symbolic violence.

Strategic and Policy-Level Concerns

• Internal Security
  • Ethnic mobilisation over symbolic issues can escalate into broader conflict in already volatile environments.
  • Ensuring sensitivity among security forces and public officials in multi-ethnic zones is critical for peace maintenance.
• Importance of Communication and Transparency
  • The delay or failure in clarifying the incident by authorities further inflamed tensions.
  • It underscores the need for proactive public communication strategies, particularly when managing inter-community relations.
• Role of Festivals in Peacebuilding
  • The Shirui Lily Festival, held after a two-year gap, could have served as an opportunity for cultural reconciliation.
  • However, the controversy surrounding it reflects how even neutral cultural spaces are politicised amid unresolved ethnic issues.

Way Forward

• Prompt and Transparent Inquiry:
  • Expedite and publish the findings of the inquiry committee in a transparent manner.
  • Fix responsibility where due, particularly if the action was taken without authority or in breach of protocol.
• Rebuilding Public Trust
  • Re-establish communication with civil society groups like COCOMI through structured dialogue platforms.
  • Reinforce the cultural pride of all ethnic groups through inclusive state narratives and public campaigns.
• Administrative Sensitisation
  • Mandate ethno-cultural sensitisation training for security forces and bureaucrats deployed in Manipur and similar regions.
  • Institutionalise grievance redressal mechanisms involving local community stakeholders.
• Restoring Democratic Processes
  • Expedite the restoration of an elected government in Manipur to rebuild institutional trust and legitimacy.
  • Encourage multi-community forums for joint decision-making, particularly on issues involving public symbolism and representation.