Manipur: Civil organisations call total week-long statewide bandh

Normal life in Manipur came to a grinding halt on Thursday owing to the general strike imposed by All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) in collaboration with All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO). There will be 48-hour general strike from August 9 midnight to August 10, said the statement.

The General strike was called to voice the grievances of the students’ fraternity of the state over months long Manipur University impasse. The Manipur University issues has led to students’ unrest in the state.

The organisations want the agitating parties to restore normalcy in the Varsity, said the statement.

Since 30 May, the Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) in association with the Manipur University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) had launched an indefinite protest demanding removal of Manipur University Vice Chancellor Adya Prasad Pandey. Another bandh against the Naga deal also affected life on August 1.

Manipur CM N Biren Singh on Wednesday announced the process of forming a policy to take legal action against those who call and observe general strikes and bandhs in the state.

Also Read | Manipur forming policy to take action against bandh sponsors 

“Everyone has the right to protest, but doing so by affecting the lives of general people is undemocratic and unacceptable,” Singh said hitting out at those who frequently call general strikes and bandhs.

All Manipur DPC Completed Candidate of Police 2013 Batch have also notified for state-wide total shutdown effective from August 10 to 11 midnight, informed the media by its JAC President L. Nandakishore Sharma.

All business establishments, educational institutions, all offices both government and non-government and vehicular movement should be put to halt, said the statement.