Community Outcry: Bandh Grips Manipur After Alleged Molestation

In Manipur's Churachandpur district, a bandh was held to protest an alleged molestation of an 11-year-old girl by a non-local. The situation escalated, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders. Shops, schools, and transport services were disrupted amid protests, leading to the arrest of the accused shop owner.

Tension mounted in Manipur's Churachandpur district as a bandh was enforced in response to alleged molestation of an 11-year-old girl by a non-local individual. The bandh, orchestrated by Kuki-Zomi Village Volunteers, aimed to protest the incident, leading to widespread disruption in the community.

Authorities, fearing an intensification of unrest, imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023. This action banned gatherings of five or more people. The shutdown, beginning at 5 am and concluding by 3:30 pm, resulted in the closure of shops, schools, and halted vehicular movement.

In a dramatic turn, supporters of the bandh burned piles of unused materials on roads, symbolizing their anger. The accused, a shop owner, was arrested under POCSO Act following a police complaint by the victim's family dated October 21. Tensions heightened as the building owner, hosting the accused, allegedly used force to break the protests.

(With inputs from agencies.)