KSO strike disrupts normal life; AH 1 & NH 2 Paralysed; Economic Blockade From May 11
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpokpi, May 08 2015 : KSO Sadar Hills sponsored 24-hour total strike protesting against the life attempt of Lalhoiphai village chief and van driver who had been grievously beaten at Moidangpok on May 2 and the contentious land allotment for Cultural University at L.Tangnaum village completely cut off the state capital from other parts of the country along National Highway 2 .

Normal life along the Trans Asian Highway No.1 or the NH-2 between Taphou Kuki and Gamgiphai was affected by the strike of the student body.

All business establishments, educational institutions were closed for the day apart from complete suspension of traffic.

A large number of volunteers were seen blocking the highway at Taphou Kuki and Gamgiphai while loaded trucks were stranded at Hengbung Taxation Check Post along with some passenger vehicles.

Volunteers blocking National Highway at Taphou Kuki area

All educational institutions were closed at Kangpokpi and even local private vehicle were off the road while the Government offices wore deserted looks.

Similar situation has also been witnessed at Taphou Kuki, Kalapahar, Keithelmanbi, Sapormeina, Motbung and Gamgiphai along the highway.

However, there was no untoward incident reported till filing of this report.

Meanwhile, the executive body meeting of the KSO Sadar Hills along with Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and other CSOs within Sadar Hills decided to give three days time for the Government to address their charter of demand while resolving to launch indefinite economic blockade from midnight of May 11 .

Thangminlen Kipgen alleged that some Meetei civil society bodies imposed counter strike along New Keithelmanbi area against the KSO protest adding that such activities will not solve the problem but rather strain the relation between the two communities.

He also said that the alleged communal Manipur Government is all responsible for the incident and termed the state Government ill-equipped and not capable of governing the people.

It felt that the Central Government should impose President Rule in the state.

We will give to the state Government another three days' time to address the charter of demand and if the Government fails to come up constructively indefinite economic blockade will followed from midnight of May 11 warned KSO Sadar Hills president.

The charter of demands includes arrest of culprits involved in Moidangpok incident on May 2 who attempted to murder the innocent van driver; terminations of those police personnel along with the in-charge commander who forcefully asked the innocent van driver to leave Lalhoiphai village by giving false promise to escort safe but later handed over to the mob to be killed; to compensate the torched van with a new one; to compensate the medical expenses for the innocent van driver and to shift the proposed site for Cultural University from L Tangnaum or propose the another site through proper channel.