Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 19:
The civil disobedience movement launched by the United Committee Manipur, against the ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) without territorial limits started on a successful note with employees of several government departments and financial institutions in Imphal and other centres taking mass casual leave today.
Hundreds of employees also joined mass sit-in-protest as part of the civil disobedience movement.
All nationalized banks remained closed, and functioning of many government offices was affected.
Responding to the civil disobedience movement call, employees of various banks operating here, as well as insurance sector employees belonging to the Life Insurance Corporation Ltd, New India Insurance Corporation, and the state cooperative bank took mass casual leave and staged a mass sit-in-protest near the premises of state cooperative bank from this morning.
The agitation was organized under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions, Manipur State Committee.
Retired bank employees also took part in the mass dharna.
Employees of several government offices located in the Lamphelpat area, including the minor irrigation department, and the electricity department, as well as the Institute of Cooperative Management, Lamphel, took mass casual leave and staged protest demonstration at their respective places of work.
Other government offices were not as badly affected, but attendance was reported to be poor.
In the meantime, the All India Postal Employees Union, Manipur divisional branch has announced that postal employees of Manipur belonging to the Union will stage a one day-sit-in-protest at the Imphal head post office tomorrow.
It may be mentioned that the UCM has called the four day civil disobedience movement from today till July 22 as part of the protest against the ceasefire extension.