Hill areas bandh paralyzes normal life
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 31 2015: The 12-hour total bandh imposed by ATSUM (both factions), ANSAM and KSO in all hill districts of Manipur totally paralyzed normal life on Monday.

SENAPATI & SADAR HILLS: All vehicular movement including inter-state passenger buses, essential commodity carriers, wingers along the Trans Asian Highway No 1 in Senapati and Sadar Hills came to a halt.

Educational institutions, business establishments and Government offices were shut for the day rendering Senapati DHQ completely deserted from early morning till late in the evening.

Similar situation was witnessed at Kangpokpi and all tribal dominated areas within Sadar Hills along the Trans Asian Highway.

A large number of bandh supporters' burnt tyres along the Trans Asian Highway at Kangpokpi, Sapormeina, Motbung and Gamgiphai.

Residemt of Phungzathang torched by protestors

At Kangpokpi, volunteers set on fire the effigies of three persons representing the three Bills which have been passed in the Assembly.

At Sapormeina, Motbung and Gamgiphai and Saikul a huge number of volunteers obstructed the highway by burning tyres, boulder and trees.

Meanwhile, Thangminlen Kipgen, President KSO Sadar Hills speaking to media person at Kangpokpi said that even if the hypersensitive Bills have been passed in the Assembly, the state Government should be aware of the intense resistance of the tribal people.

"Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh should resign right away on the ground that he is totally in the dark of the Constitution", asserted KSO Sadar Hills leader. Thangminlen Kipgen also further expressed dismay that Chairman of the Hill Area Committee and other tribal Ministers and MLAs did not oppose the bills in the Assembly and asked them to step down if they were incapable of doing the same.

ATSUM President Joseph R Hmar expressed gratitude to all the tribal people who have enthusiastically supported the tribal student bodies' stir on Monday.

However, a reliable source informed that late in the evening at around 8:30 pm an angered mob set on fire the residential house of IFC Minister Ngamthang Haokip at Gamnom Sapormeina and residence of MLA Nemcha Kipgen at Ngahmun in Sadar Hills.

Hill areas bandh paralyzes normal life

MOREH & CHANDEL: The 12-hour bandh paralyzed normal life in Moreh Town and all parts of Chandel District.

All shops and business establishment were shut while there were no vehicular movements along the highways.

During the bandh, vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh stretch of National Highway 102, Chandel District Headquarters Road and other Sub-Divisional Headquarters roads came to grinding halt as bandh supporter blocked the roads at several places.

Volunteers of the Students' bodies blocked and prohibited vehicular movement along the Imphal – Moreh section of National Highway at Moreh, Tengnoupal and near Molnoi.

The bandh supporters also enforced the bandh along Sugnu - Chakpikarong road at Sugnu Tribal, Singtam and Chakpikarong Sub-Divisional Headquarters.

Passenger and private vehicles also stayed off the road along the Pallel - Chandel District Head Quarters Road as bandh supporters blocked the road stretch at several places during the bandh.

Shops and commercial establishment remain open in the District Head Quarters.

But Government offices located in the District Head quarters recorded low attendance due to the bandh.

However, there was no report of any untoward incident till filing of this report.

UKHRUL: In response to the 12-hour hill districts bandh called by the tribal student bodies of the State, all vehicles stayed off the road, while commercial establishments, educational institutions and government offices remained closed for the day on Monday.

Volunteers kept vehicular movement in check though pedestrians could be seen walking, while State security personnel were stationed at various points of the town.

However, no untoward incidents were reported during the bandh.