Indefinite hill bandh cripples normal life
Source: The Sangai Express

Tpl/Kpi/CCpur, July 23 2018: The indefinite bandh called by the Joint Tribal Student Bodies Manipur in the hill districts of Manipur against the plethora of issues prevailing in the State has crippled normal life in many parts of hill districts, said a source.

Bandh supporters and volunteers blocked the road using wood and bamboo bars to show their allegiance to the bandh called by the Joint Tribal Student Bodies in their protest against the non-committal attitude of Manipur Government in tackling the ongoing crisis at Manipur University, the indiscriminate firing and bomb attack at the house of some innocent people by armed miscreants at Tengnoupal district, Moreh on July 13 and the excessive force used against student leaders who were protesting in a democratic manner at Churachandpur on July 6.Village chiefs and Kuki Women Human Rights of Molnoi area, Tengnoupal District and representatives of Thadou Students Association, Tengnoupal blocked Imphal-Moreh road along NH-102 which caused inconvenience to many passenger vehicles and trucks plying on the highway affecting Indo-Myanmar trade significantly.

However, religious rituals, medical emergency, vehicle transporting water were exempted from the purview of the bandh.

Speaking to media persons, vice president of Kuki Women Human Rights, Molnoi area H Tinlam Mate strongly condemned the Moreh firing of July 13 while denouncing the failure of State Government to nab the culprits involved in the incident: While urging the authority concerned to bring an amicable solution to the ongoing crisis at Manipur University, she also demanded the arrest of the perpetrators involved in the Churachandpur incident at the earliest.

Kangpokpi Highway bandh along NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) road, which is part of the JTSB-M stir, was enforced from 6 am in Kangpokpi district by volunteers of JTSB-M between Kangpokpi DHQs and Motbung.

Volunteers including men and women were seen blocking the highway monitoring the movement of vehicles.

Those exempted vehicles from the purview of the bandh were given passage but those vehicles under the purview of the bandh were sent back or halted.

Volunteers at Motbung were seen halting a good number of loaded trucks escorted by security forces for a few hours while several passenger wingers were seen stopped at Motbung bazar.

Business establishments between Kangpokpi DHQs and Gamgiphai remained closed for the day.

Kangpokpi police and other security forces were also seen along the highway monitoring the situation.

Speaking to media persons at Motbung, Thangtinlen Haokip, spokesperson, JTSB-M appealed the agitating student bodies and others on the MU crisis to allow the fact finding committee instituted by the Government to do their job and relax their agitation considering the welfare of thousands of students.

He also asked the State Government and department concerned to book the culprits involved in the murder attempt of TSA Moreh president by attacking his residential house on July 13 with sophisticated weapons and to bring justice at the earliest by punishing the culprits according to the law of the land.

He further asked the State Government and department concerned to nab the culprits involved in the brutal assault of JTSB-M volunteers at Churachandpur at the earliest.

If the State Government fails to fulfill the demands of the within a few days, "we will be compelled to intensify the stir," he added.

CCpur affected: The bandh imposed by Joint Tribal Students' Bodies Manipur crippled normal life in many parts of Churachandpur including the town area, with shops closed and traffic staying off the road.

The bandh which was lifted later in the evening, however had minimal impact in outlying areas.

Bandh supporters burnt tyres in some pockets of the town area but there was no report of any untoward incident.

A statement issued today in the name of JTSM and ZSF thanked all for observing the bandh today even as they urged the public to remain prepared for more forms of agitation in the near future.

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