Imphal, May 18 2009: Normal live in the five hill districts of Manipur was crippled today following the 12-hour general strike/bandh imposed by the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) from 6 to 6 pm of in protest against non-fulfilment of its demands by the State Government.

ATSUM, the apex body of tribal students in Manipur had demanded 33 percent reservation in the recruitment to the vacant posts in the newly established Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, JNIMS.

However, the Director of JNIMS, AD Singh had allegedly failed to respond to the demands of the ATSUM and hence the strike was called.

The general strike staged in the five hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong affected normal lives though it was peaceful as no vehicles were seen plying especially the inter-district buses.

Vehicles plying along the two National Highways, NHs-39 and 53 including passenger vehicles were also suspended for the day.

Reports said that several trucks and inter-State passenger buses coming on NH-39 were stranded at Mao gate owing to the strike.

No vehicles from Imphal left for the other places in the hills areas even though normal plying of passenger and other vehicles in the valley area was not disturbed.

All Government offices, private undertaking, institutions remained closed in the hill districts for the day.

However, educational schools and related matter including essential services like water supply and electricity were exempted.

The bandh was most effectived Churachandpur and Senapati, said reports reaching here.

With the end of the strike hours at 6pm., vehicles stranded at Mao gate started heading towards Imphal with security escorts, police said.

For starting the session of the JNIMS, the authority notified for appointments 10 posts for Professors, 13 for Associate Professors, 23 for Asst Professors and 33 for Senior Residents.

However, as no ST candidate could apply for the three upper posts due to shortage of qualification, the ATSUM is demanding reservation 10 seats for the ST in Senior Resident category.

ATSUM has also demanded to a bill be passed modifying the reservation policy of the state government and increased the current 27 percent to 31 percent at any circumstance at JNIMS for the ST.

Our Jiribam correspondent adds: The 12-hour general strike called by ATSUM in the five hill districts of the State severely affected vehicular traffic along the Imphal-Jiri Road (National Highway-53) today.

Vehicles including intra and inter-district as well as inter-State transport stayed away from the road during the strike today.

However, there is no report of any untoward incident so far.

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