Imphal, November 28: The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur and the Kuki Students' Organisation Ghqs, have decided to call off the indefinite economic blockade imposed on the two National Highways with effect from midnight of today following the assurances of the Government to fulfill their demands.

Addressing newsmen at Kuki Inn today, ANSAM vice president Ngachonmi Chamroy said that an agreement was arrived at during a meeting with the Chief Minister yesterday at 9 pm.

Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa, Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh, Principal Secretary (Finance) RC Mishra and Commissioner (Edn) P Bharat were present at the meeting, he informed.

As per the agreement, the Government has decided to create a separate post of Additional Director, Education for hills with specific powers and functions.

An order to this effect was issued by the Government on November 27.Specifically charting out the powers and functions of the Additional Director for Education, Hills, the order said that the new incumbent will have the power to appoint matriculate/under graduate/graduate and other specified posts of teachers of elementary/LP schools/high schools and secondary schools in their respective pay scale.

The new incumbent will also be conferred the power to transfer the aforementioned teachers, sanction temporary withdrawal of GP funds for teachers, sanction of crossing Efficiency Bar for teachers, sanction of leave to grade IV employees in the office of the Zonal Education Officers, Education offices and schools within its jurisdiction.

The order further said that the Additional Director will be delegated financial powers of the Head of Department under the relevant rules and also to submit proposals for budgetary proposals in the hill districts.

All the files of the Additional Director will be placed before the Director of Education on matters pertaining to policy decision and deviation from the standing norms, added the report.

The ANSAM vice president said that the creation of the post of an Additional Director of Schools for the hills has been a consistent demand of the tribal students.

The Government has also agreed to release the funds meant for construction of computer rooms under the Department of Revenue for 15 blocks in the hill districts.

The amount will be deposited with the respective Deputy Commissioners by tomorrow for immediate implementation, added Chamroy.

The Government has also constituted a judicial inquiry to probe the circumstances - leading to the killing of three students by Imphal East police commandos at KR Lane on October 25.An order to this effect has been issued by the Govt, dated November 11, and Special Judge (Retd) S Gourachand Singh will head the probe panel.

The Commission is to submit its report within one month with effect from November 11, said an order issued by Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh on Nov 27.The venue of the Commission will be Imphal and the terms of reference include inquiring the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Limkhongam Baite, LS Thangkhopao Baite and Thenminthang Baite.

It will also recommend measures to prevent recurrence of such incident in the future.

Police had earlier claimed that the three students killed were militants but the civil societies had strongly opposed the version of the police claiming that they were innocent students.

All the three students hailed from Moreh and one of them was a student of DM College of Arts.

Following the standing assurances of the Govt, the three tribal student bodies said that the blockade will be lifted from midnight of today.

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