India, May 21 -- The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex Meitei civil body, has called a 48-hour general strike across Manipur in protest against the alleged directive by security forces to remove the word "Manipur" from a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus. The bus was ferrying journalists to the 5th Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul on Tuesday.

COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba addressed the media at the group's office here on Wednesday, condemning the reported action by personnel of the 4th MAHAR Regiment. The incident occurred on Tuesday at Guwaltabi, Imphal East, along the Imphal-Ukhrul road.

According to Athouba, security personnel allegedly instructed MST officials to remove the word "Manipur" from the bus b...