Manipur Shutdown Over Custodial Death Brings Imphal Valley to a Standstill. A 24-hour bandh called by JAC over the alleged custodial death of a 27-year-old youth paralyzes normal life in Imphal East and West districts of Manipur.
Normal life in Manipur’s Imphal valley came to a grinding halt on Friday following a 24-hour statewide shutdown called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) protesting the alleged custodial death of a 27-year-old youth, Khoisnam Sanajaoba. The shutdown, which began at midnight on Thursday, saw widespread disruptions in daily activities and a heavy presence of security forces across key areas in the valley.
Officials reported that markets, shops, educational institutions, and business establishments remained shut throughout the day. Public and private transport services were suspended, with only security vehicles and emergency services allowed to ply the roads. The impact of the bandh was particularly intense in the Imphal East and Imphal West districts.
“There is no major untoward incident reported so far in connection with the bandh,” a senior police official said. However, several protestors took to the streets in Khurai Ningthoubung Leikai—the native area of the deceased—to enforce the shutdown. They blocked roads using debris and burnt tyres, demanding justice for Sanajaoba.
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To maintain law and order and prevent any possible escalation of violence, massive contingents of security personnel were deployed across Imphal valley. The authorities took preemptive steps to ensure peace during the bandh. On Thursday, Imphal East District Magistrate Mayanglambam Rajkumar Singh imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS). The order, which came into effect from midnight on April 24 and remained active until the midnight of April 25, prohibited the assembly of five or more individuals and barred the carrying of weapons, sticks, stones, and explosive substances.
The shutdown was organized by the JAC, which was constituted after the alleged custodial death of Khoisnam Sanajaoba. The JAC has demanded a transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death. According to the committee, Sanajaoba was a village volunteer and not involved in any unlawful activities. He was arrested by the Manipur police on March 31 along with four others for their alleged links with the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-Noyon faction). He was later remanded to judicial custody at the Manipur Central Jail in Sajiwa.
On April 13, Sanajaoba was rushed from the jail to the casualty ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), where he was declared dead. His death has since triggered a wave of protests and public outcry, particularly in his home locality and surrounding areas.
In a memorandum submitted to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on April 17, the JAC laid out a charter of demands including a time-bound, impartial investigation into the custodial death and stringent action against those responsible. However, the committee claims that no satisfactory response has been received from the government, fueling public anger and prompting them to intensify their agitation.
The JAC, supported by local clubs, civil society groups, and women’s organizations, has organized several demonstrations in recent days. Their central demand remains justice for Sanajaoba and accountability for what they term as a case of gross human rights violation.
“The silence of the government and its continued apathy to the situation has left us with no choice but to escalate our protest,” a JAC spokesperson said. “We appeal to all communities and civil society organizations to join hands and support this movement for justice. This is not just about one person—it is about protecting our democratic rights and holding institutions accountable.”
Friday’s shutdown saw near-total compliance across Imphal Valley, reflecting the depth of public sentiment over the custodial death. With the state government yet to announce any concrete steps toward addressing the JAC’s demands, further protests and shutdowns cannot be ruled out in the coming days.
The situation continues to be tense but under control, with security forces maintaining vigilance to prevent any flare-ups.
