Bandh effective in hill districts
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, January 11:
The 12-hour Manipur bandh affected normal life in the hill districts of the State to a great extent today although it had little impact in the valley.
However, there was not a single stray incident of violence from any of the five hill districts.
The Kuki Students' Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-Ghq) and All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) jointly called the 12-hour Manipur bandh which began at 5 am today demanding that the Delimitation process should be implemented in the State as soon as possible based on the 2001 Census.
Today's KSO-ANSAM joint bandh was also supported by the Movement for Tribal Peoples' Rights, Manipur (MTPRM) .
According to ANSAM president Paul Langhu who spoke NNN the bandh, as per reports intimated by the students' body units from the hill districts, was total in the five hill districts of Manipur.
Naga Students Union, Chandel (NSUC) president Stephen informed that Government offices and educational institutions were closed today in view of the bandh in Chandel district.
The NSUC president also said that no vehicles plied on the road and the business establishments were also did not function today.
Similar reports have also been received from Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts.
The inter-State passenger buses and goods transports too did not ply today along the National Highways as did the inter-district transporters in Manipur hills.
Meanwhile, expressing its unflinching support to the joint initiatives of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the United Naga Council (UNC) in urging the Government to complete the procedure of delimitation in Manipur at the earliest time, the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) or Tangkhul students body has today urged the Government of India not to go ahead with the proposed ordinance in the interest of the people.
The Tangkhul students' body's general secretary, RS Jollyson, while stating that the Government should proceed with the delimitation exercise in order to safeguard the tribal rights in Manipur has said that the Government of India should seriously review and revoke the ordinance.
Feeling that the ordinance will only distance the relationship between the hill and the valley people, it also stated that the ordinance is a betrayal to the hill people.
Meanwhile, S Milan a functionary of the United Naga Council which is sustaining the Naga integration movement, described the Union Cabinet's decision as 'very unfortunate' saying "the unfettered rights of the tribal people are suppressed by this decision.
Bad consequences would be triggered by it.
We will take our decision to pursue all possible means to secure our rights".