Bandhs, blockades galore, normal life affected
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 02: Normal life in the State were severely affected today due to bandhs and blockades called by different organisations for different reasons.

Commercial areas like Paona Bazar, Thangal Bazar, BT road, Dharamshala, MG Gandhi Avenue and Alu Gali of the Khwairamband Bazar remained closed.

Ecxcept for emergency and ceremonial services, inter-State and inter-district passenger and goods vehicles stayed off the roads.

Shops under lock at the commercial area of BT Road following the bandh called by different groups and tyres burnt during the bandh

While security forces were beefed up at several strategic points, some bandh supporters indulged in burning of tyres and logs on different streets of Imphal.

In another incident, a group of candidates, who have cleared written test for recruitment as Government primary school teachers, imposed a 36 hour general strike from 6 am today demanding to hold viva-voce for the same recruitment.

Meanwhile, ATSUM has also launched its six day economic blockade along the national highways demanding the State Government to increase job quota of Scheduled Tribes in Central Government run Manipur University (MU), Canchipur to 34.2 per cent and fill up the required school teachers in the hill districts.

Meanwhile, womenfolk of Mongkot Chepu Litan inhabited by Kuki community blocked the Imphal-Ukhrul road for few hours on Thursday morning to protest against what they termed as "excesses" of Litan police.

Officer in charge of Litan PS along with his men, who were all in an inebriated condition, bashed up five villagers � Anthony Vaiphei, Thangkhochon Kuki, Jaminlal Kuki, Popor Kuki and Gogou Kuki � on Wednesday evening without spelling out any valid reasons, the villagers contended.

Citing the failure of the post OC to keep his promise to settle the matter by next morning, as the reason behind blocking the road, the womenfolk alleged that they were chased out from the station gate on the night of Wednesday and the uniform men also fired some rounds in the air, they added.

The bandh was later called off at around noon when the Officer in Charge of Litan Police Station apologised and agreed to abide by the Kuki customary law, the womenfolk maintained.