IMPHAL, Feb 21(NNN): Alleging that Manipur government has failed to initiate any action despite the economic blockade on the national highways, the five-day economic blockade sponsoring joint action committee today threatened to intensify their agitation.
The JAC formed in connection with January 28 incident in which troops of the Assam Rifles had killed two persons including a chief functionary of the KNF, a militant group under suspension of operation with government and a civilian driver has been imposing a five-day economic blockade on the national highways in Manipur since last Wednesday.
Owing to the blockade normal movement of goods ferry vehicles on the two main national highways (NH-2 and NH-37) has been disturbing for the fourth consecutive day. The blockade was due to end by midnight of Sunday.
Alleging that the state government was remaining silent even as economic blockade was imposed on the national highways, the agitating JAC today threatened they will be compelled to impose a statewide bandh in the state.
Addressing a press conference here today, convener of the JAC Thangmilen Haokip alleged that the state government was not initiating any action to fulfill its demands which include among others provision of a report of the magisterial enquiry being conducted by the state government.
If the government continued to unheed to the demands, the JAC will be compelled to resort to an intensified form of agitation, he said, hinting that a statewide bandh might be their next course of agitation.
On the other hand, the indefinite bandh imposed on the Imphal-Moreh section of the NH-102 by the Tribal Blind Association Chandel was suspended temporarily following an assurance from the circle MLA ST Nunghlung Victor this afternoon.
The MLA gave his assurance during a meeting with the representatives of the agitating association led by its secretary K Pareng Kom today at Pallel police station of Chandel district.
The MLA reportedly gave his assurance to air the plights of the association to the chief minister. He further convinced the agitating group that he would arrange a meeting between representatives and chief minister on or before the upcoming Assembly session.
After the meeting Pareng Kom said that the association decided to lift the indefinite bandh for the time being respective the assurance given by the MLA.
However, he added that the bandh will be resumed if the MLA failed to provide a written assurance from the chief minister regarding the proposed meeting with the representatives of the association by this evening.
The Tribal Blind Association, Chandel was imposing the indefinite bandh in Chandel district, affecting particularly on the NH-102 and Pallel to Chandel district headquarters with effect from Friday demanding conversion of now privately run Mission Blind School Heikakpokpi into a full-fledged government school and provision of grand-in-aids to the school.