Imphal, May 21, 2025, Virthli (ONP): In a strongly worded letter to the Governor of Manipur, Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam expressed serious concern over a reported incident involving the alleged removal of the word “Manipur” from a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus by security forces.
The incident reportedly occurred on May 20, 2025, at the Gwalatabi checkpoint, where personnel from the Mahar Regiment and the Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly compelled a group of journalists -en route to the 5th Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul - to remove the term “Manipur” from the MST bus signage. Following the incident, the journalists were forced to return to Imphal.
Dr. Akoijam stated that the bus journey had been officially arranged by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to facilitate media coverage of the state-sponsored festival inaugurated by the Governor. Calling the security personnel’s actions "unconstitutional" and "absolutely unacceptable," he warned that such incidents not only damage the image of security institutions but also risk inflaming existing tensions in the state.
He further alleged that the incident could be seen as aligning with efforts to delegitimize the political and territorial integrity of Manipur, especially in the backdrop of rising communal tensions. “This act…is an open display of their contempt for the Constitutional scheme,” Dr. Akoijam wrote, describing it as “an act of mutinous treason.”
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Calling it a grave affront to state authority and a dangerous precedent, the MP urged the Governor to initiate immediate and appropriate action against those responsible, emphasizing the need for accountability to uphold constitutional governance and prevent further unrest.
