KSDC strike ends, blockade begins
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 09 2013:
Even though the 36 hours general strike called by Kuki State Demand Committee ended without any major incident this morning normal traffic flow continues to be affected as the 48-hour economic blockade of the Committee came into immediate effect.
The agitation is in demand for early political dialogue between Kuki armed groups, which are signatories to the Suspension of Operation agreement with the Governments of India and Manipur.
A KSDC statement issued by its Information and Publicity secretary S George Guite informed that the general strike was total in all Kuki dominated areas.
In addition to about 200 womenfolk enforcing the strike call on the Imphal-Ukhrul road by converging on the inter-district route at Mahadev near Mongnelphai, Churachandpur witnessed stray incidents for the second consecutive day today after strike supporters set ablaze one Bajaj Pulsar, said the statement.
It is informed that people in large number came out on the streets to stop vehicular movement, including those of security forces.
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women holding banners demanding early start of the dialogue process and burning of tyres were common sights in Churachandpur.
The Imphal-Saikul, Imphal-Jiribam-Tamenglong, Imphal-dimapur and Imphal-Moreh roads also witnessed total strike as vehicles stayed off the road, Government establishments remained shut and educational institutions declared holidays, maintained the KSDC statement.
Trade activities in Moreh town and Namphalong market, located a few yards from the border town on the myanmar side were also hit severely on account of the strike.
According to our Moreh correspondent KSDC Moreh Block chairman Seipao Haokip, who is also the Committee spokesperson briefed media persons on the KSDC agitation today.
Demanding that Government of Manipur take the initiative to facilitate early political dialogue with the SoO groups, he reminded that the current phase of agitation is an outcome of the State's failure to translate into action an earlier assurance that talks would be held.
Cautioning that further intense agitation on the said issue cannot be ruled out, Seipao also affirmed that the economic blockade till 5 pm of July 11 would be vigorously enforced.