A letter from MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam to the Governor of Manipur has sparked outrage over an incident involving the army and BSF allegedly erasing “Manipur” from a press bus. Akoijam called it a deliberate insult and demanded accountability.
BY PC BUREAU
May 21, 2025 — In a strongly worded letter to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Inner Manipur Member of Parliament Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has demanded immediate action and accountability for the controversial incident on May 20, in which security forces allegedly compelled journalists to remove the word “Manipur” from a state transport bus heading to the 5th Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul.
Dr. Akoijam expressed “deep concern” over the reported actions of personnel from the 4 Mahar Regiment and Border Security Force (BSF), who allegedly forced a group of journalists to erase the “Manipur State Transport” (MST) signage on their bus at Gwaltabi, before turning them back to Imphal. The journalists were en route to cover the festival organized by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Manipur.
“What is deeply disturbing is that this unfortunate incident involved the troops of the regular army,” wrote Dr. Akoijam, who also serves on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth & Sports. He stated that the episode not only tarnished the image of the armed forces but also risked fueling suspicions about a perceived agenda to delegitimize Manipur’s territorial and political identity.
READ: Manipur Governor Orders Inquiry into Signage Erasure on Media Bus
Dr. Akoijam labeled the act as “absolutely unacceptable” and “an act of treason,” asserting that the troops had no legal or constitutional basis to carry out such an action. He noted that the removal of the state’s name from a government-owned bus was symbolic of deeper contempt for the state’s identity and could embolden destabilizing narratives in the already volatile region.
“Their action is an open display of their contempt for the Constitutional scheme,” he wrote, warning that such conduct by uniformed personnel is particularly dangerous in a conflict-ridden state like Manipur.
Calling the incident a “direct challenge” to the Governor’s authority and the ongoing efforts to restore normalcy, the MP urged Governor Bhalla to initiate “immediate and appropriate action” to ensure those responsible are held accountable and punished according to law.
READ: Meitei Body calls for Shutdown, Manipur Governor’s Apology
The Governor has already constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the matter, following mounting public outcry and a 48-hour bandh call by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which termed the signage removal a deliberate affront to Manipur’s identity.
The Shirui Lily Festival, a symbol of unity and cultural pride in the Naga-dominated Ukhrul district, was meant to foster healing in a state grappling with the aftermath of ethnic violence. However, the incident has reignited tensions and brought issues of press freedom and regional identity to the forefront.
