Source: The Sangai Express
Pallel, January 01:
Pallel joined the agitation list today with a bandh imposed at Pallel bazar with many more agitations being lined up to protest the torching of the Pallel Government High School in the adjoining nights of January 3 and 4 by unidentified miscreants.
The people of Pallel gave vent to their outrage even as the ATSUM sponsored economic blockade is underway while the Jiribam District Demand Committee has imposed a blockade on NH-53 to demand the upgradation of the sub-division to a district.
The Pallel Govt High School was set on fire in the adjoining nights of January 3 and 4 and it was saved from being reduced to cinders by the local people.
The fire nonetheless caused substantial damages to the school building.
Along with the bandh at Pallel bazar, sit-in-protests were held at two places today.
On top of this a body christened the JAC Against the Burning of Pallel Govt High School has been formed to chart out the future course of action during a public meeting held today.
Representatives of different organisations including the Kuki Human Rights, Tengnoupal area, KSO Molnoi block, All Tribal Women's Organisation, Chandel, Youth Volunteers' Association, Chandel, Social Development Organisation, Chandel and representatives from the school management committee attended the meeting.
The meeting decided to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister to release compensation for the losses suffered in the fire by January 8 and to press the Government to extend all possible to repair the school building.
In case the Government fails to take up any positive action, then the JAC will be constrained to launch a series of agitation from January 9, said the convenor of the JAC, H Dilipkumar while speaking to The Sangai Express.
The convenor however did not spell out the mode of agitation to be launched.
However there is a strong possibility that the Moreh-Pallel route may be blocked in the coming days, said a source.
The JAC also thanked the people of Kotlenphai, Molnoi, Wajung and Soichang for their help in putting out the fire which would otherwise have reduced the school building to cinders.
A Tata Sumo which was on the Imphal-Moreh route was damaged by bandh supporters at Pallel.
The looming possibility of another agitation at Pallel comes even as the State is besieged by the economic blockade of ATSUM, NH-53 blockade by JDDC and the 48 hrs Pallel-Chandel bandh called by the Anal Naga Students' Assn.