Imphal, October 26 2008: Denouncing the act of burning down a tourist bus with passengers on board killing two passengers on October 23 at Lahorijan, Assam by KLO/KLA cadres, the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association has called a 12 hour State wide bandh with effect from 6 am of October 29 .

Incidentally, the KLO/KLA is among the Kuki UG groups under Suspension of Operation agreement with the Government.

Speaking to reporters at North AOC here today, president of the association Athokpam Budha Luwang observed that of the various acts of intimidation, violence, abduction and harassment meted out to drivers and conductors of inter-State buses, the arson of October 23 was the most extreme and shocking.

Disclosing that most of the UG groups of Manipur demand money from the association, he confided that they have to give the money most unwillingly to ensure that the buses can ply along the National Highway.

What is more disturbing is the conspicuous silence of the Government when Naga UG groups and Kuki UG groups extort money from transport organisations even as they are under the ceasefire pact and SoO agreement with the Government, Budha remarked.

On the other hand, neither UG groups nor State security forces demand money from NSTC buses coming from Nagaland, he said.

In contrast, both UG groups and police extract money from the buses travelling from Manipur starting from Awang Sekmai.

Under such circumstances, even MSRTC will not be to operate, were it functional today, Budha asserted.

Informing that education, electricity, water supply, medical and religious services will be exempted from the purview of the October 29 bandh, he said that the ongoing suspension of inter-State bus service will continue.

Meanwhile, a public meeting on the arson and murder of bus passengers was held today under the aegis of the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the AMUCO, UPF, TIPS, Rongmei Women Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) and the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union and other civil organisations.

In addition to condemning the highly detestable crime in the strongest term, the meeting agreed to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi tomorrow.

Taking part in the meeting as TIPS representative, Aslam Khan said that a memorandum appealing for establishment of Quick Reaction Team for protection of NH-39 and NH-53 and to provide adequate compensation to all the victims of the arson was submitted to the Union Surface Transport Minister yesterday.

A copy of the memorandum was also submitted to the Union Home Minister, he said.

The incident was not a result of only not fulfilling their monetary demand but it manifested a murderous intention.

In addition to the clarification they made, the KLO/KLA should punish all their cadres involved in the incident in a fitting manner, he demanded.

The incident demonstrated the lawlessness and there is no guarantee that more such incidents may not follow in future.

The entire responsibility of the inhuman crime lies with the Government, said S Sanjoy who represented AMUCO.

During the meeting, the bus driver of the ill-fated bus recounted full story of the incident.

Taking strong exception to the incident, the UCM has also condemned it in the strongest term.

A press release issued by the UCM asked what steps the State and Central Governments would take up against the KLO/KLA for killing the innocent passengers without any mercy even as they are under SoO agreement with the Government, ironically for peace.

The UCM also pledged unstinted support to any movement that may be launched by the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association on the issue.