ATSUM's bandh ends, eco-blockade follows
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 13 2021: Even as the 24 hours bandh called by the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) demanding notification for the elections to the Autonomous District Councils has wound up, an indefinite blockade is set to follow from midnight today.

With ATSUM making its stand clear that it would not compromise on the issue, the Government has meanwhile invited the student body and its federating units for a talk tomorrow at the Chief Minister's Secretariat to hammer out a solution and end the economic blockade.

In a statement issued late this evening, ATSUM said it has decided to attend the meeting at the Chief Minister's Secretariat tomorrow and its future course of action will depend on the outcome of the talk.

In the meantime, the economic blockade, as decided by ATSUM's Ukhrul general assembly will remain in place until and unless an acceptable solution is arrived at, it added.

ATSUM's bandh ends, eco-blockade follows

On the other hand, the 24 hours bandh today threw life out of gear in hill districts shutting markets and suspending vehicular movements on all State and National Highways today.

Goods laden trucks and other vehicles were stranded along the National Highways as volunteers enforced the bandh.

It may be noted that the 24 hours bandh was called by ATSUM denouncing Government's failure to issue a notification to hold elections to six existing Autonomous District Councils of Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

The student union had served March 11 as the deadline to issue the notification.

Significantly, an attempt by the Government to avoid the bandh failed when a talk with ATSUM on March 11 did not find any concrete solution.

At Moreh in Tengnoupal district today, volunteers of the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) blocked Imphal-Moreh road to enforce the bandh.

All markets and shops remained closed affecting normal life in the border town.

Security personnel were also deployed in the town to avoid any unwanted incidents during the bandh.

KSO Moreh Block's joint secretary, Mangpilen Touthang said ATSUM's demand to hold the elections to the ADCs is legitimate and the Government should issue the election notification at the earliest.

He said KSO will further support ATSUM in its demand and impose indefinite economic blockade along the Imphal-Moreh road, as cautioned by ATSUM earlier, until the Government releases the election notification.

At Noney district, the bandh from midnight yesterday affected normal life of the public with all markets and roads remaining closed.

Long lines of goods carrying trucks, passenger and private vehicles were seen stranded along Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Dimapur road.

There have been no reports of any untoward incidents happening in the district.

In Senapati district, the bandh affected all vehicular movements and shut down markets.

Airport services/duty, medical and hospital related services, religious programmes including marriage and funeral ceremonies, press, electricity and water supply services were relaxed during the bandh.

Earlier, the SDSA (Senapati District Students' Association) had endorsed ATSUM's call for bandh and said it would enforce it in the district strictly.

More than 500 vehicles including trucks, passenger vehicles were reportedly stranded at Mao Gate.

The ATSUM's bandh amid the BJP celebrating four years of its 'people centric governance' disrupted normal life at Kangpokpi also.

While vehicles were off road and business establishments, private and Government institutions etc remained closed, educational institutions, religious events and emergency services were exempted from the purview of the bandh.

However in Kangpokpi district headquarters, business establishments remained closed for about an hour in the morning and were partially opened later.

Volunteers were seen blocking National Highway-2 at Gamgiphai, Keithelmanbi and few other locations.

No untoward incidents were reported.

Meanwhile, the Kuki Students' Organization Sadar Hills has expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters and volunteers for rendering maximum cooperation during the bandh and conveyed that it will endorse and continue to support ATSUM in its movement for tribal welfare.

It may be recalled that the offices of the Members of the six ADCs have been lying vacant since December last year after their (extended) term ended on November 30 .