12-hour state-wide bandh cripples normal life
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 07 2013 :
Normal life in Manipur remained crippled on account of the 12-hour State-wide bandh called to highlight the problems stemming out of the construction of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar international boundary that would lead to loss of a large portion of Manipur's land.
The bandh was called by the Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing, (CPLBF), Manipur from 5 am to 5 pm in protest against the alleged lack of concern on the part of the State and the Central over the issue.
A number of organisations including political parties extended their support to the bandh call.
On account of the bandh, inter-state and inter-district passenger and goods transports stayed off the road.
Educational institutions and business establishments too halted their activities.
Attendence in Government offices was also reported to be low.
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Trucks and passenger buses coming from other north-eastern states were stranded at the border towns of Mao and Jiribam due to the bandh and the legalised border trade at Moreh in Manipur and Namphalong in Mynmar was also grounded to a halt today.
Bandh supporters were seen enforcing bandh along Imphal-Churachandpur road near Tiddim area, Imphal-Dimapur road, Imphal-Moreh road, Imphal-Jiri road and elsewhere.
However, there was no report of any untoward incident during the bandh.
Meanwhile, a sit-in protest was carried out at Keishamthong Bazar, Imphal in support of the bandh and its cause.
The protest demonstration was held under the aegis of Elite Foundation, Manipur (EFM) .
It may be noted here that CPLBF has called the bandh after the state and the central Government failed to give any response to the ultimatum served with September 27 as the deadline for conducting a re-survey of the Indo-Myanmar boundary so that a clear demarcation can be carried out before erection of fencing.
India shares a 349 km long border with Myanmar.
On the Manipur section of the border, the Pillar Numbers 32-48 falls under Churachandpur district, Pilllar Numbers 49-89 are in Chandel district and Pillar Numbers 90-130 in Ukhrul district.
CPLBF has maintained that a total of 43 villages inhabited by about 2,969 households numbering about 18,000 people on the Manipur side will be affected by the Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing.