IMPHAL, June 4: The 38 hour general strike called by the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur as the first phase agitation concluded today.
However in between, the student body has informed IFP that it will initiate its second phase of agitation immediately.
Speaking to IFP, All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur spokesperson Majabung Gangmei informed that the second phase of the Union`s agitation will be initiated immediately after its 38 hour agitation imposed in the tribal inhabited areas of the state from 5 am yesterday concludes.
As soon as the the 38 hour general strike concluded today, a 38-day sustained agitation which is the union’s second phase agitation has been imposed in all the tribal inhabited areas of the state.
Meanwhile, ATSUM condemns in the strongest way the incident wherein personnel of Assam Rifles and Sekmai police station detained and beat up the disabled tribal people saying that they were agitation supporters, he said.
Consequently, an indefinite ban on national projects being taken up in tribal inhabited areas including railway projects will be imposed with immediate effect. The agitation to ban national projects is said to be the third phase of the agitation of ATSUM.
Our CCPur Correspondent adds: CRPC 144 has been imposed in certain parts of Churachandpur district following certain disruptions during the general strike.
The bandh called by All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur saw a mixed response today at Ccpur proper with areas from Tuibuang upto Lamka side of the town witnessing total bandh, while the other side of Tuibuang saw the public not responding to the bandh call with the Kuki Students Organization not in agreement with the imposition of bandh called by the tribal students’ union.
It may be recalled that ATSUM is disowned by certain Kuki and Hmar student groups.
Late this afternoon along the Rengkai road, police resorted to blank firing to control bandh volunteers while trying to impose the bandh at Rankai area of Lamka.
A local who identified himself as Goulian told IFP that the bandh is a failure at Rankai just outside of the area where the blank firing incident happened.
He however said that the bandh supporters had accosted him when he tried to enter the area.
Another local Lalpi of Upper Lamka told IFP that people must fight to control outsiders from over populating the state and at the same time unity must prevail to the Manipuri people who are affected by the access of the army which constantly made news, be it on harassment of the common people or even the top leaders of the state.
The band affected the main market of CCpur today.
