NAKODAR/SHAHKOT/NURMAHAL
Shops and commercial establishments remained shut in Nakodar, Shahkot sub-divisions, and Nurmahal sub-tehsil on Wednesday in view of a 'Punjab Bandh' called by different Dalit and Christian organizations against the Manipur violence.
Several Christian and Dalit bodies held demonstrations at several places and staged dharnas.
Shops remained shut in many areas as protesters shouted slogans against the central government for the violence in the northeastern state. Ahead of the bandh call given by different Dalit and Christian organizations, police were deployed at many places in the district.
It is pertinent to mention here that more than 160 people have lost their lives and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was held in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Tension was ratcheted up further after a video purportedly shot on May 4 surfaced online, showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side. Meiteis account for about 53 percent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 percent and reside mostly in the hill districts.