ATSUM suspends highway blockade
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 30 2015 : The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has suspended its indefinite highway blockade as well as the ban on National projects.

The student body arrived at this decision after three of their leaders held a meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi this evening.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, ATSUM advisor Romeo Bungdon conveyed that during the meeting the Government agreed to withdraw the warrant of arrest issued against six ATSUM leaders including the president and the general secretary.

In response, ATSUM would suspend the highway blockade before the two sides hold another round of meeting on July 11 .

However, none of the ATSUM's demands were discussed during the meeting this evening.

ATSUM started imposing the indefinite highway blockade since June 22 midnight and this was preceded by closure of all higher secondary schools located in the hill districts.

Establishment of a Scheduled Tribe Commission, service regularization of the 268 contract lecturers and 333 ad-hoc teachers posted in hill districts, filling up of backlog posts under ST reservation norms in Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat, bifurcation of Additional Director (Hills) from Education (S) Director and transfer of land records of hill districts from valley districts to the hill districts are some of the major demands raised by ATSUM.

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