Valley areas in Manipur, predominantly inhabited by the Meitei community, witnessed a standstill on Friday as a bandh was observed in protest against the mysterious disappearance of two teenagers earlier in the week. The Joint Action Committee, formed in response to the vanishing of Avinash Maibam (16) and Anthony Ningthoujam (19), called for the bandh, according to media reports.
The two teens failed to return home in Imphal West after setting out for Sekmai on Sunday morning. Their phones were discovered wrapped in a black plastic bag near an oil pump in Senapati district. Despite police arresting two members of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (U), described as "highly suspected" in the crime, the missing teenagers have not been located. Meanwhile, during the bandh, an exchange of fire occurred near Sugnu on Friday morning, though no injuries were reported.
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Adding to the complexity of the situation, two days after the Meitei teens' abduction, four individuals from the Kuki-Zomi community, relatives of an Indian Army soldier, were kidnapped. Two bodies were subsequently discovered, awaiting identification.
