Bandh hits hill districts
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 18 2011: Normal life was affected in five hill districts of the state today following disruption of vehicular movement and closure of shops during a 24-hour bandh called by the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) in protest against government apathy towards addressing their demands.

No incident of violence reported from all the five hills districts, Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul districts where district level student bodies extended supports to the bandh which began from last midnight (February 17) and due to end by midnight of today.

Inter-district buses from Imphal did not arrived in the districts HQ as they remained off the roads fearing attacks by bandh supporters if they defy the bandh.

Local passenger services and other vehicles were also stay off the road, reports said.

However, a report from Chandel district HQ said that shops and small business centres were opened.

Government offices also functioned even though most of the employees absent due to suspension of the passenger services.

The bandh is by and large going on peacefully.

The ATSUM imposed the 24-hour bandh in protest against the government's indifference to their charter of demands.

In view of the indifferent and resolute stand taken by the state government against the legitimate demands of the tribals, the body is compelled to call the 24-hour bandh, a statement of the ATSUM had said.

ATSUM is demanding rectification on issues like inadvertent evading of the Rules of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Service (for SC and ST) Act, 2007 and its objection to 200 point roster as against the earlier 100 points.

Extension of the service of contract basis teachers in the hill districts for one academic year, revocation of the cabinet decision of posting senior Manipur Civil Service officer as executive director of DRDA without due consultation with Hill Areas Committee of the State assembly are the other demands of the tribal student body.

In the beginning of this month, ATSUM had intensified its protest by resorting to closure of government institutions and offices in all the five hill districts alleging that government was not responded positively to their demands.

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