ATSUM bandh cripples normal life, ends peacefully
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 23 2021: The 24-hour bandh imposed in all the hill districts of Manipur by All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) concluded peacefully with no report of any major incidents on Monday midnight.

However, the bandh disrupted vehicular movement while all business establishments down their shutters.

Addressing media persons at Senapati, SR Andria, general secretary ATSUM, thanked all the tribal, student and women leaders as well tribal populace for extending support to the bandh called to show resentment'over the discriminatory act of the state government's refusal to table Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021 in the ongoing state assembly session.

The office of ATSUM put on record that the recommendations made by the Hill Areas Committee are not to divide the state but it is a Bill to ensure equal development in the hills and the valley of the state.

The HAC recommended the bill under Article 371 (C) of the Indian Constitution of 1972 which empowers Hill Area Committee to recommend any legislation or any executive action relating to the scheduled matters.

With that aim, the HAC recommended the Bill with regard to ADC to be tabled in the assembly.

According to the 1972 order, the recommended Bill should be normally given effect by the state government or otherwise, it can be referred to the governor by the state government if the Bill is considered incomplete.

However, it is unfortunate that the state government put the Bill into cold storage, the ATSUM general secretary lamented.

A Bill needs to be passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly to turn it into an Act.

The tribal organisations are not happy when the Bill was not tabled in the assembly and they term as "unconstitutional," he said.

To sustain the movement, the ATSUM is reportedly convening a tribal consultative meeting on the Bill at Adimjati Amity Hall, Chingmeirong here on August 24 at 1 pm, for which the apex student body of the hill has invited all tribal political leaders, social workers, village chiefs, women leaders, student leaders, legal experts and well-wishers.

The union also urged all to support the Bill for peaceful coexistence.

More than 200 goods laden trucks were reportedly stranded at Mao Gate due to the bandh, which had the backing of All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), KSO-GHQ and its district branches, Gangte Students' Organization, Zou Students' Association, Paite Tribe Council, Komrem Students' Association, Hmar Students' Association, Zomi Chiefs' Association, Kuki chiefs' bodies of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association, Chandel Naga People's Organization, Chandel, Naga Women's Union, Chandel, Naga Students' Union, Chandel and Naga Chiefs' Association, Chandel, Joint Tribe Council, Tamenglong, Joint Tribe Students' Association, Tamenglong and Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur, Naga People's Organization (NPO), Senapati District Women's Association (SDWA), Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) and its federating units, Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Chief Association (TWNL), Tangkhul Women's Union (TSL), Tangkhul Students' Union (TKS) and Tangkhul Youth Organization (TMNL) in Uhkrul district.

In Kangpokpi district, the ATSUM bandh was peaceful though movement of vehicles was strictly restricted as the busy National Highway 2 wore a desert look while all business establishments which were recently exempted from the purview of the curfew remained closed for the day.

During the bandh period volunteers were seen blocking the Highway restricting movement of vehicles since midnight and they continued to enforce the same at Kangpokpi town and Gamgiphai.

But no untoward incidents have been reported till the time of filing this report.

Police were also seen deployed along the Highway monitoring the situation.

UKHRUL: Normal life in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts came to a grinding halt on Monday as ATSUM's 24-hour total shutdown came into force since August 22 midnight.

However, no untoward incidents were reported from any part of the two districts.

The shutdown was enforced by Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), the apex students' organisation of Tangkhul community, in the twin districts, as part of the shutdown called by ATSUM in all the hill districts of the state.

Since early morning, volunteers and supporters of the students' body blocked all roadways including the National Highways, leaving them deserted throughout the day.

In Ukhrul town, government offices remained closed as TKS volunteers blocked the main entrance to the mini secretariat and pasted with bills inscribed with Office Closed.

The bandh supporters also burned tyres in the middle of the town roadways and disrupted the normal traffic.

All commercial establishments also downed shutters in the two districts, except those selling medicines.

Reports reaching here said the shutdown was also effectively enforced in various interior pockets of the two districts.

Meanwhile, reports said that a brief confrontation between bandh supporters and police occurred at Risophung/Leishipung village in the Maphou Dam area after a team of Imphal West police attempted to gain entry into the village.

However, the police team left the spot after the locals sternly resisted their entry, reports said.

CHANDEL: The 24-hour shutdown called by ATSUM was total in Chandel district with Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC) effectively enforcing the bandh.

Shops and markets remained closed and only vehicles engaged in essential and emergency services were allowed to ply.

Volunteers of NSUC also blocked Pallel-Chandel road at Liwa Changning.

On the other hand, to prevent unwanted incidents during the shutdown, Chandel district police took up precautionary measures in several areas of the district including district headquarters.

Speaking to media persons, ATSUM information secretary Angte Shang cautioned of launching several intense protest till their demand is fulfilled.

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