SDSA asks trucks to leave within 24 hour
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 18 2011: Demanding immediate action from the state government to clear the National Highways from the clutch of the ongoing general strike of SHDDC, the Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) today gave an ultimatum to the stranded trucks to go back and vacate the area they are occupying within 24 hour starting from 6 pm today evening.

President, SDSA Phokreho Kharasi told reporters that any untoward incidents arise after the deadline to the stranded trucks and its occupants will be the responsibility of the state government.

The stranded trucks parking in Senapati are causing many inconveniences to the local public of Senapati.

Since they have been left stranded here since the beginning of the general strike, many drivers and handymen have developed symptoms of various illnesses.

Moreover they are facing acute shortage of food items.

As per their request, SDSA in association with Senapati District Medical Officer will be treating them tomorrow to help them.

Meanwhile, the SDSA in a memorandum to the governor yesterday "deeply resented the hidden discriminative agendas of the present state government in dealing with the sensitive issue of Sadar Hills", and added that the "one sided attitude of the state government has seriously hurt the sentiments of the Nagas especially in Senapati district" .

14 supporters of SHDDC underway fast unto death at Kangpokpi and Sapermeina

Casting aspersion against the state government for its "prejudice statement" on the issue of Sadar Hills, it said that such statements are "injudicious and uncalled for".

Warning the government against any attempt at bi-furcating the existing Senapati district it said that "dishonoring such hard earned efforts to promote communal harmony among ethnic groups will only worsen the present volatile situation" .

Seeking the intervention of the governor, the memorandum of the Senapati District Naga Students' Association (SDSA) said that any decision of the government without the consent of the Nagas will only trigger communal antagonism among different communities in a diverse state like Manipur.

Laishram Boby (35) a truck driver from Moirangpurel told Hueiyen Lanpao that all the money they have and food items have been exhausted since they were left stranded in the area since the beginning of the general strike.

They were force to use the food items they are ferrying.

Moreover the goods they are ferrying are becoming stale day by day.

Narrating the hardships they have been facing, he appealed to the SHDDC to relax their agitation at least for one day to let in the stranded vehicles on humanitarian ground.

It may be mentioned that there are more than 70 stranded trucks from Senapati Thong Wangma to Karong and more than 300 trucks from Maram to Mao.

In the meantime, Haokam Kipgen a social worker who is undergoing fast unto death along with 13 other volunteers of SHDDC told Hueiyen Lanpao that the hunger strike they are undergoing is purely voluntary, the 40 years old struggle for Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district is the result of the step-motherly treatment by the state government to the inhabitants of Sadar Hills and their demand.

He said that many districts have been created in the state without any struggle.

But in case of Sadar Hills, many lives have been lost and bloods have been shed.

However the government is turning a deaf ear to the cries and suffering of the people of Sadar Hills.

He further reiterated his stand to fast unto death until and unless the demand of a full-fledged Sadar Hills districtis fulfilled by the state government.