48 hours bandh supporters burn effigies, minor scuffles reported
Source: The Sangai Express

Tbl/Kak/Bpr/Jiri, July 19 2018: With the failure of the Government and authorities concerned to appease the students in the impasse that has paralysed the Manipur University, the 48 hours bandh called by the Manipur University Students' Union has crippled normal life in many districts as the bandh entered the last 24 hour.

The State Government's and the Chief Minister's efforts to dodge and avoid bandhs at any cost has miserably failed as the valley districts don deserted looks during the general strike supported by almost all the students' bodies.

The 48 hours general strike demanding the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the varsity AP Pandey and denouncing excessive use of force by the security personnel is an amalgamation of many grievances of the student communities across the State.

On the first and the second day of the bandh, students' organisations in Bishnupur, Thoubal, Jiribam and Kakching thronged the streets enforcing the bandh.

In Thoubal, volunteers of DESAM, AMSU, MSF, KSA, SUK and womenfolk thronged streets and National Highway-102 and enforced the bandh.

Supporters of the bandh burned effigies of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and VC of MU AP Pandey demanding the removal of the VC.

Major markets in Thoubal district remained closed for the second day.

In Kakching, All Kakching Students' Union (AKSU) and Kha-Manipur Students' Union supported the bandh and reiterated the demands of the MUSU.

Kakching bazar, Wabagai bazar, Pallel bazar and Kakching Lamkhai remained deserted during the bandh.

All Manipur Students' Union Kakching District Sora Unit blocked Imphal-Moreh (NH - 102) road yesterday.

Kakching Khunou College Students Union too blocked the Imphal-Sugnu road.

Students and teachers of Iramdam Maheikol (IMA), Langmeidong Maning Leikai, formed human chain along the Imphal-Sugnu road yesterday.

However, there have been no report of any unwanted incident/accident during the bandh.

The second day of the bandh crippled normal life and economic activities in Bishnupur.

At Ningthoukhong bazar, a short minor scuffle broke out between local womenfolk enforcing the bandh and police personnel.

At Kumbi bazar police personnel chased away bandh enforcers.

Except these minor incidents, there have been no report of any major scuffle/confrontation and damages.

The bandh in Bishnupur are so far - peaceful, said our correspondent.

Government and private offices, schools and colleges remained closed.

Nambol bazar, Kumbi bazar, Moirang bazar, Ningthoukhong bazar, Bishnupur bazar, Kwakta bazar remained closed for the second day.

Passenger services vehicles and State Transport Services halted completely.

The bandh however did not affected the emergency services and cultural/traditional processions.

In Jiribam, AMSU, MSF, DESAM, KSA, other students' organisations and CSOs enforced the 48 hours bandh of MUSU.

"Down Down AP Pandey" and "Remove corrupted VC AP Pandey" were some of the banners the students used during the bandh.

The organisations conveyed their support to MUSU in any future course of actions demanding removal of the Vice-Chancellor AP Pandey.

Jiribam bazar, schools, colleges and Government offices remained closed during the bandh.

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