Market places in Imphal remained closed for the last three days owing 24-hour general strike on December 21 by a local JAC formed against the killing of a chowkidar and his son by militants of KCP (Kesho Meetei) which was followed by another 72-hour general strike called by KCP (MC) who strongly condemned the act of its rival group in killing the chowkidar and his son after being kidnapped for ransom.
The bandh called by KCP (MC) was due to end by Saturday morning at 5 am but it was shortened and concluded at 5 a.m. Friday, responding to the appeals made by various civil organizations considering Christmas festival.
With the opening of the markets in Imphal, people, particularly hill communities who follow Christianity converged at the shops dealing with readymade garments and gifts. Traffic jams were witnessed at all the streets across the city and traffic police assisted by the city police had a hard time to regulate the traffic.
Imphal West district police is making a special security arrangement in market places in Imphal after they appealed shopkeepers to open their shops till 8 p.m. for enable the people to shop for the Christmas festival.
Christians thanked the shortening of the bandh. “We welcome decision the decision regarding the shortening of the bandh hour. It made us enable to shop new clothes for our children and gifts for the festival,” said Pauzalian Paite, a government employee from hurachandpur district posted in Imphal.
Fed up with frequent bandhs and economic blockades, he said that such kinds of protests have sometimes affected the peaceful co-existence among the different communities residing in the state for centuries when it was imposed during the festival time.
Governor greets
Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat has greeted the people of Manipur, especially Christians on the auspicious and joyous occasion of Christmas, 2011.
In his message, the Governor prayed to god for peace, harmony and prosperity for the state of Manipur while reminding that Lord Jesus was born to build a new world order based on peace, justice and equality of mankind.
During Christmas, Jesus’s message of love, mercy, forgiveness, has become increasingly important at the present situation, when the “atmosphere is polluted with enmity and hatred”, the Governor stated.