The insurgent groups have urged citizens to observe August 15 as “Black Day” by hoisting black flags and avoiding all celebrations. Emergency services will remain exempt from the shutdown, which runs from 1 AM to 6:30 PM.
BY PC Bureau
Several valley-based insurgent outfits in Manipur have issued a joint call urging residents to observe India’s Independence Day on August 15 as a “black day,” renewing their long-standing rejection of the state’s accession to the Indian Union.
The outfits, operating under the banner of the Coordination Committee (CorCom), have urged people across the Northeast to stay away from official events and instead mark the day as a “black day” by hoisting black flags. The six banned groups making up CorCom are the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), its progressive faction (PREPAK-Pro), Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
In a statement, CorCom’s Publicity Committee blamed the ongoing unrest and violence in Manipur on what it called India’s “regressive policies”, alleging that these stem from decades of neglect and suppression. While the shutdown will cover almost the entire day, the groups said essential services—such as medical care, media operations, water and power supply, fire services, and religious observances—would be exempt.
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Two other insurgent outfits, the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA) and the National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM), have also backed the boycott, declaring a 12-hour bandh for the same day.
The insurgent organisations — many of which have been active since the late 1970s and 1980s and operate primarily from Imphal — claim that the merger agreement was signed under duress and without the consent of the Manipuri people. This narrative has fuelled decades of insurgency in the state, marked by armed confrontations with security forces, targeted attacks, and political assassinations. Despite years of counterinsurgency operations and peace talks, several factions remain outside the negotiation process, continuing to push for the restoration of Manipur’s independence.
1. Preparation for the upcoming 78th Independence Day program is in full swing in Kuki-Zo community areas.
2. Meanwhile, All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) directs all its units and subordinates to unfurl their flag in their offices and asks all agencies to declare a… pic.twitter.com/TjSWS8rW9l— The Proud Indian (@DynastyDoungel) August 11, 2025
The outfits’ joint statement comes at a time when Manipur is grappling with deep ethnic divisions and violent clashes that have raged since May 2023, primarily between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Over 220 people have been killed, thousands injured, and more than 60,000 displaced in the ongoing unrest. The insurgents are seeking to leverage this turbulent backdrop to amplify their political demands.
ULFA-I Too Issues Boycott Call
Meanwhile, the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) and the Yung Aung faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-YA) have also issued a joint call urging residents of what they term WESEA — encompassing parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland — to boycott India’s Independence Day on 15 August 2025.
In their statement, the insurgent groups asked citizens to remain indoors as a symbolic act of protest, dismissing the occasion as a hollow “so-called celebration of freedom” for the region. They framed the appeal as part of their resistance to decades of heavy military presence and alleged state repression. The joint message, carried by regional newspapers and news outlets on 10–11 August, reflects a renewed attempt to rally public sentiment against New Delhi’s authority in the Northeast.
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Historically, calls for “black day” observances in Manipur have led to heightened security measures, including restrictions on public gatherings, stepped-up patrolling, and temporary internet suspensions in sensitive districts. Authorities are expected to roll out similar arrangements this year, especially in Imphal valley, to prevent any law-and-order breakdown.
Government officials in the state have repeatedly appealed to the public to ignore such boycott calls and participate in Independence Day functions, portraying them as celebrations of unity and democratic values. However, the insurgent outfits maintain that the annual protest serves as a reminder of an “unfinished struggle” — a sentiment that continues to resonate with sections of Manipur’s population despite the heavy presence of central and state security forces.
