Imphal, September 16, 2010: Normal life was affected partially in the hill districts of the state as the 48-hour general strike called by the Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) commenced today.

On the first day of the general strike, life was unaffected in parts of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel, reports however said that normal life in Churachandpur district and Kangpokpi was crippled.

Some inconveniences were caused to residents of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel districts as inter-district buses remained off the road fearing attacks by strike supporters.

Reports said that streets wore a deserted look and most vehicles were off the road and shops and other establishments too remained closed.

There was a report of an attack on vehicles in Kangpokpi but police denied it.

No vehicles entered Manipur from Nagaland on NH-39.Around 180 loaded trucks remained stranded at Khuzuma police check post till late this evening.

Police said that the trucks were stopped from proceeding to Imphal as there was no security escort SP, Senapati district ordered them not to move without security escort.

The strike made the biggest impact in Churachandpur district , police said.

No untoward incident was reported till evening from any part of the state.

The strike made little impact in Ukhrul district where the Tangkhul Co-ordination Committee (TCC), Ukhrul had announced that they would not support the 48-hour hill district bandh called by COPTAM.

TCC has been criticizing COPTAM when the latter called by speeding up of devolution of powers to the Autonomous District Council (ADC) in the hill areas.

The TCC been demanding the declaration of ADC Election 2010 as "null and void".

The COPTAM imposed the 48-hour general strike in hill areas of the state demanding among others restoration of original hill district boundaries, transfer of land records to ADCs concerned, Moreh be declared a tribal area and it should retain its original tribal identity, devolution of adequate power to ADCs, protection of land and rights of the hill tribals in Manipur, etc.

On the other hand, normal traffic along the Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 was affected today for the second day due to the 72-hour bandh imposed jointly by AMSU, Chandel District Committee, KSO, Moreh Block and students of Moreh Government Higher Secondary School.

The bodies are demanding sending of a regular principal of the Moreh Government Higher Secondary School among others.

The bandh is severely affecting the normal cross border trade at Moreh and Namphalong.

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