48-Hour Bandh Paralyzes Manipur's Thoubal District Over Youths' Abduction

A 48-hour bandh called by a Joint Action Committee protests the abduction of two youths by militants in Manipur's Thoubal district. Despite government assurances, the bandh commenced after the youths weren't released by Monday night. The bandh has severely disrupted daily life, including transport and business activities.

Normal life in Manipur's Thoubal district was crippled on Tuesday following a 48-hour bandh called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) over the abduction of two local youths by militants, police reported.

The bandh, which started at 3 am, stemmed from the kidnapping incident on Friday. The JAC had threatened widespread protests and a total district shutdown if the youths were not freed by Monday night.

'The government's failure to secure the release of the youths by Monday night has led to the bandh,' JAC convenor L Subol told reporters. 'We will persist until our boys are safely released.'

Angry residents blocked National Highway 102 at several points, while women protestors and youths disrupted traffic and burned tyres to halt vehicles.

Businesses closed, public transport halted, and government workers struggled to reach offices. Meanwhile, stranded SSC GD test candidates also got caught in the chaos.

One of the abducted youths, Johnson Singh, was rescued by the army. Efforts to free the remaining two are ongoing, with Chief Minister N Biren Singh closely monitoring the situation and engaging in talks with both state and central authorities.

This incident is part of ongoing ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kukis, which has claimed over 200 lives since May of last year.

(With inputs from agencies.)