Bandh called by militant outfit hits life in Manipur

Guwahati: A day-long bandh called by banned outfit National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) on Saturday to protest against the merger of Manipur with India in 1949 disrupted normal life in the strife-torn state.
Major markets and educational institutions were closed and public transport vehicles remained off the roads. A few private vehicles, however, continued to ply.
Manipur became a part of India on October 15, 1949 by an agreement between the then Manipur ruler, Maharaja Bodhchandra, and the Government of India on this day in 1949.
NRFM alleged that the erstwhile Maharaja was forced to sign the merger agreement.
NRFM’s information and publicity secretary, Sanajaoba Meitei, in a statement questioned whether the Manipur Merger Agreement contained any clause that permanently prevented Manipur from regaining its sovereignty.
NRFM demanded that the Government of India officially recognise Manipur’s political status prior to the Merger Agreement.