Emergency shutdown begins at Kangpokpi over arrest of ATSUM leaders
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, August 02 2022: Emergency shutdown began at Kangpokpi town over the arrest of ATSUM leaders today even as the 24 hours bandh called earlier to demand the tabling of the ADC Bill was yet to come into force.

The ATSUM federating units including KSO and ANSAM had demanded the State Government to release the arrested ATSUM leaders before 6 pm today.

As volunteers of KSO Sadar Hills, TSA Sadar Hills, Zillai and others were seen blocking the highway from 7 pm at Kangpokpi town due to the non fulfilment of the demand, vehicles including trucks are reportedly being stranded along the highway stretch.

ATSUM had earlier announced its series of agitations including a 24 hour total shutdown from 6 pm on August 3 in the entire hill districts to be followed by other intense agitations from August 5 to show its resentment against the lackadaisical attitude of the Government towards tribal people and for not tabling the HAC recommended "The Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill 2021" in the ongoing 2nd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Ahead of its proposed stir, some of the ATSUM leaders were reportedly summoned by Imphal West SP and ATSUM said that they resolved to call the bandh in pursuance of the resolutions adopted in the 2nd general assembly held at Haipi Village, Sadar Hills and at the subsequent meeting of ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO-GHQ and federating units of ATSUM held on July 28 and July 31.The student body appealed to all private and Government institutes to endorse the bandh.

Essential services like medical, power, media, and water supply will be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.

Speaking to the media, Thangtinlen Haokip, general secretary of KSO Sadar Hills said that they imposed the emergency shutdown as the Government failed to release the ATSUM leaders who have been arrested by the police.

A similar emergency shutdown has also been in Churachandpur and Moreh by the respective district KSO units.

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