ATSUM bandh total in hill districts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2021: The 24 hour bandh called by the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the hill districts demanding State Government to table the ADC Bill 2021 and its passage in the ongoing Assembly session was total, reports TSE correspondents in Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Chandel, Moreh and Kangpokpi.

Ukhrul correspondent, Mungchan Zimik reports: Ukhrul town wore a deserted look today as the remained indoors to extend support to the call of ATSUM.

Offices, shops and other commercial establishments remained closed during bandh hours.

Although security personnel were deployed in the town, volunteers of Tangkhul Katmnao Saklong (TKS) locked the main entrance gate of Mini Secretariat office complex, Hamleikhong and burnt tyres at the front gate to prevent officials from attending office.

Speaking at the sidelines, TKS president Shimri Raising said that the Tangkhul student body fully endorses ATSUM's call.

He (Shimri Raising) further mentioned that there will be no let up in the public movement until their demands are met.

He said the bandh is being enforced in the district by TKS and sufficient volunteers were deployed in and around town areas to check unnecessary vehicular movements.

No untoward incidents related to the bandh were reported.

ATSUM bandh total in hill districts

Churachandpur correspondent reports: The bandh was total in the district with different student bodies supporting the bandh.

Vehicular movements were greatly restricted, shops, offices and other business establishments remained shut.

The bandh, for most of the day went off peacefully except for a brief altercation that occurred at Kangvai village at about 9 am as some people reportedly confronted the bandh enforcing youth.

The intervention of the police however managed to quell the standoff without any flare up.

Addressing media persons leaders of KSO Churachandpur said the ATSUM led agitation is to mark protest before the State Government's refusal to even take up the HAC drafted ADC Bill 2021 for discussion on the floor of the House.

Minlal (KSO Churachandpur's general secretary) said, "The HAC with the intention of ensuring greater development in the hill has sought a little space for the hill people to grow up and be at par with the valley people, however this Bill was not even tabled on technical ground.

We want this Bill to be passed by the Government and until our demands are achieved, we will continue to fight" .

Chandel correspondent reports: The bandh was effective with Naga Students Union Chandel (NSUC) leading the bandh enforcement.

Traffic remained off road while markets, shops and other establishments were closed across the district including district Headquarters, Japhou Bazar although necessary movements were exempted from the bandh.

Volunteers of NSUC blocked Pallel Chandel road at Liwa Changning and the bandh was entirely peaceful.

ATSUM's information secretary, Angte Shang had also warned to intensify their agitation if their demands are not fulfilled.

Moreh Correspondent reports: The bandh was effective in Tengnoupal district as KSO Moreh volunteers and KSO Tengnoupal volunteers blocking Imphal Moreh National Highway at Chikim village and near Saibom village respectively.

Kangpokpi correspondent reports: Despite some minor incidents, the ATSUM bandh went off largely peaceful in Kangpokpi district.

The busy National Highway 2 wore a deserted look as movement of vehicles was strictly restricted and all business establishments remained closed.

The bandh volunteers enforced the bandh at Kangpokpi town and Gamgiphai since midnight yesterday and there has been no report of any untoward incident till the time of filing this report.

Police were also seen along the Highway monitoring the situation.

The ATSUM bandh was endorsed and supported by all hill based civil society organizations including KSO Sadar Hills, TSA Sadar Hills and others.

Our Senapati correspondent reports: The 24 hour bandh concluded peacefully with no report of any untoward incident till the time of filing this report.

The bandh disrupted vehicular movements and all business establishments were closed during the day.

Addressing media persons at Senapati, SR Andria, general secretary, ATSUM appreciated and thanked all tribal leaders, student leaders, women leaders and all the people for extending support to the 24 hours bandh to express resentment against the State Government's refusal to table Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021 in the ongoing Assembly session.

The recommendation made by the Hill Area Committee is not to divide the State but to take up equal development between the hills and the valley, he said.

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

With that aim, the HAC had reportedly recommended the Bill to be tabled in the Assembly.

According to the 1972 order, the recommended Bill should be normally given effect by the State Govt or otherwise the Bill can be referred to the Governor if it is considered incomplete, he said.

However, it is unfortunate for the State Government to keep the Bill in the cold storage, he stated.

To sustain the movement, ATSUM is reportedly convening a tribal consultative meeting at Adimjati Amity Hall, Chingmeirong, Imphal tomorrow at 1 pm.

All tribal political leaders, social workers, village chiefs, women leaders, student leaders including legal experts and well wishers have been invited to the meeting which would discuss matters relating to the Bill.

More than 200 goods laden trucks are reportedly stranded at Mao Gate due to the bandh.