Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla hoisted the national flag in a heavily guarded ceremony at 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground amid deserted streets.
BY PC Bureau
August 15, 2025: As the nation marked the 79th Independence Day with pomp and pageantry, Manipur’s capital remained subdued under the shadow of a 18-hour bandh called by valley-based insurgent groups. Despite the shutdown, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla unfurled the national flag at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal, the traditional venue for state-level celebrations, in a ceremony conducted under tight security.
The event began with the ceremonial hoisting of the Tricolour, followed by the National Anthem. A Guard of Honour was presented by the Manipur Police, and the Governor inspected the parade before addressing a restricted gathering..
Hon’ble Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, hoisted the National Flag and took the salute at the grand march past by 33 contingents during the 79th Independence Day celebrations at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground, Imphal. 🇮🇳 1/3 pic.twitter.com/97n3GoD6yU
— RAJ BHAVAN MANIPUR (@RajBhavManipur) August 15, 2025
The bandh, which began at 1:00 AM, was called by ten insurgent outfits, including the Coordination Committee (CorCom) — a coalition of six banned groups: Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and its progressive faction, Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), and United National Liberation Front (UNLF). They were joined by the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA) and the National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM), as well as allied groups from outside the state such as ULFA-Independent and the Yung Aung faction of the NSCN. The organisations urged residents to observe August 15 as a “Black Day” by avoiding official programmes and hoisting black flags, framing their protest as opposition to Manipur’s 1949 merger with India, which they allege was signed under coercion.
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Across the Imphal Valley, the bandh impacted normal life — streets lay empty, shops and markets stayed shut, and public transport services were largely off the roads. Essential services — including hospitals, fire brigades, water supply, media, and religious observances — were exempt and functioned without disruption.
Security was intensified across the capital, with personnel from the Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF, and Assam Rifles stationed at key points such as Tiddim Road, Kwakeithel, and Kangla Fort. Patrols were stepped up and checkpoints established to prevent disturbances. Temporary internet suspensions were reported in some districts to curb the spread of provocative content.
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The boycott call came amid continuing ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which have claimed over 220 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people since May 2023. While the bandh was widely observed in the valley, some hill districts, particularly Kuki-Zo-dominated areas like Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, held separate Independence Day events.
This year’s Independence Day, though peaceful under heavy security, highlighted the fragility of the state’s stability and the deep political rifts that persist 76 years after India’s independence.
