IMPHAL, April 19: The 24-hour Jiribam bandh imposed by the Ngamkhei Kanba Lup since midnight yesterday disrupted normal life in Jiribam Sub-division today.
The bandh was imposed in denouncing the highhandedness of the additional SP O Menjor, who allegedly assaulted four locals of Boroikhal, who were presently taking shelter at Jiribam.
Villagers of Boroikhal and Sabhugat including women and children are presently taking shelter following border dispute between Jiribam and Tamenglong district.
In response to the bandh business activities in the sub-division came to a grinding halt. All public transports stopped its services besides school, offices remained closed.
Although there was no report of any major violence, bandh supporters reportedly damage three passenger vehicles for allegedly defying the bandh.
The first incident occurred this morning around 9am wherein bandh supporters reportedly inflicted damage to a passenger vehicle (Cruiser AS-11C 6057) this morning around 9am near an oil pump. Two more vehicles (cruiser MN07D 1040 and 1385) were also damaged by bandh supporters this evening around 5pm.
Meanwhile, the ADC Jiribam convened a meeting at its office around 11 am. The meeting was participated by community leaders and representatives of Civil Society Organisations.
It has been informed that a team of journalist who went to cover the meeting was denied entry on the pretext that the meeting had started and asked to collect the news later in the evening.
The All Jiribam Working Journalist Union (AJWJU) strongly disapproving the incident termed the attitude as a ‘disregard’ towards the journalist.
The Ngamkehi Kanba Lup (NKL) who is spearheading the bandh did not attend the meeting organised by the ADC.
However, sources informed that another round of meeting would be organised to defuse the prevailing situation.
The NKL also imposed an indefinite closure on ticket counters of passenger vehicles for defying the bandh and the closure will remained until an understanding is reach between both the parties.
On the other hand, around 53 villagers of Boroikhal including women and children and 39 villagers of Sabughat including women and children are currently taking shelter at the relief camp opened at Jiribam.