IMPHAL, Jan 19 NNN: Bandh supporters damaged several vehicles in Senapati district’s Kanglatongbi bazaar in Manipur on Saturday during the 24-hour Manipur general strike call given by the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM).
ATSUM called the strike since last midnight protesting the state Government’s apathy toward its demands. It ends on Saturday midnight.
At Kanglatongbi bazaar, large number of bandh supporters unleashed anger on scores of vehicles defying the strike and smashed up at least four vehicles, including three passenger buses and a bullet tanker.
Reports said a police team from Sekmai Police Station interfered with the vandalism before they quelled the bandh supporters. Later, the police escorted the vehicles to Imphal safely.
Inter-district bus service was totally paralyzed due to the strike for the day. The bandh evoked near total response in the hill districts of Chandel, Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Tamenglong. However, the strike was relaxed in respect of Tamenglong headquarters where the 6th Youth Conference of Rongmei Naga Baptist Association (RNBA) is being held, sources in ATSUM informed.
However, normal life in Imphal remained unaffected by the strike.
ATSUM also expressed gratitude to all individuals and also to the All Manipur Transport Association for giving support to the strike.
ATSUM president Muan Tombing alleged that personnel from the 46th Assam Rifles today caught an ATSUM volunteer in Churachandpur district and tortured him. The volunteer identified as one Muante who is in his 20s was arrested by the Assam Rifles personnel and gun-butted him, according to the ATSUM chief. “Why should the Assam Rifles involved in the affairs?,” questioned Muan Tombing. He then said the Assam Rifles who claimed to be the ‘friends of the hills’ are ‘unfriendly’ to the hill people who are on democratic agitation on hill issues.
Meanwhile, Muan Tombing claimed that in spite of some sections of tribal students boycotting the 24-hour bandh it was very affective in Chandel and Senapati districts too. He said the bandh was also affective in the jurisdiction of the (KSO).
Mention may be made here that on January 10, (ATSUM) had threatened that it would impose a 24-hour Manipur bandh from midnight of January 18 if the demands apprised to the state government on November 27 last year are not addressed by the state government. ATSUM had further warned that in the event of the failure from the state government side to act even after the 24-hour bandh, the student body will announce its further course of action on January 20.
On November 27 last year, ATSUM had apprised the government of Manipur to address issues pertaining to tribal people of Manipur and the hill districts.
In its lengthy memorandum submitted to the chief minister of Manipur had demanded Manipur State Commission for the Scheduled Tribes. ATSUM also demanded for the setting up of B.Ed centres in the hill districts. It also demanded that adequate teaching and non-teaching staff in the education institutions in the hill districts with better infrastructure.
President Maun Tombing and General secretary Vareiyo Shatsang, ATSUM in its memorandum said, “It has been our long standing aspiration to find a State Commission of the Scheduled Tribes in Manipur under the Article 338A of the Indian Constitution which would usher in all round Development and progress in respect of thee Tribal people in this eastern most part of the Indian Union.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/vehicles-damaged-during-atsum-stir/
