Bandh on ST demand elicits mass response
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 28 2021:
The 18-hour total shutdown called by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) from midnight of December 27 till 6 pm of December 27, elicited widespread support across the valley districts of the State and affected the daily life of its citizens.
It may be noted that on December 16 as per a convention organised by STDCM, the Committee had resolved to launch an 18-hour total shutdown from midnight of December 27 if the State Govt fails to send a recommendation to the Centre for the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list by December 27 .
IMPHAL: The main markets situated in the heart of Imphal such including Khwairamband Keithel, Paona Keithel, Thangal Keithel and others were without their usual hoard of vendors and market goers.
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The shutdown affected the daily economic activities as shops across economic hubs like Singjamei, Lamlong, Thangmeiband, Kwakeithel, Keishampat, Uripok and Kongba Bazar remained shut.
Passenger service vehicles including inter-State bus and taxi service were halted for the day and as such traffic on the roads was minimal.
Government and private schools and colleges were also closed and oil pumps across the district all bore the same abandoned look.
THOUBAL: Supporters of the total shutdown closed shops and shut down vendors across the main markets of Thoubal district such as Thoubal Keithel, Khongjom Keithel, Wangjing Keithel and Yairipok Keithel.
Further, they stopped all traffic of all passenger service vehicles.
KAKCHING: At Wangoo Nongyaikhong Keithel of Sugnu Constituency, Kakching district, supporters of the shutdown stopped people from venturing out from early in the day and demanded the State Govt to send the recommendation speedily.
Various clubs of the region extended support to the shutdown including Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Kakching district.
BISHNUPUR: Daily life across Bishnupur district came to a standstill as a result of the shutdown.
Nambol Keithel wore a deserted look.
Shops were closed and aside from a few private vehicles, no passenger service vehicles plied.
The district police were seen patrolling in large number to ensure that no untoward incidents marked the shutdown.
The major markets of Bishnupur namely Bishnupur Keithel, Ningthoukhong Keithel, Kwakta Keithel and Kumbi Keithel remained closed due to the total shutdown.
A sit-in-protest was staged at Nambol Hao Keithel wherein the secretary of Nambol Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, L Premila Leima rued that the 9-year old demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list still remains unfulfilled.
Further the Committee pledged to lend support to any future protest launched by the STDCM in this regard.
Nambol Keithel Phambi Ema Lup also showed their support to the shutdown.