Atsum’s 24 hrs bandh hits normal life in hill districts

Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 13 (EMN): Manipur’s All Tribal Students’ Union (Atsum) sponsored 24 hours bandh over the demand for elections to the six autonomous district councils (ADCs) has affected normal life in the state’s hill districts today, reports said. The bandh was called from Midnight of March 12.

Reports stated that all roads in and around the district headquarters of Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul wore deserted look since morning after the inter-district and inter-state passenger vehicles and other goods trucks have suspended their normal services. All shops, educational institutions and offices in the hill district headquarters were also closed, it added. However, there is no report of any untoward incident till the filing of this report.

On March 11, a meeting was held between Atsum and the chief minister N Biren Singh in Imphal.

“After a threadbare discussion on matters pertaining to impending ADC elections, no concrete decision was arrived,” said Atsum in a press release on March 12. “Therefore, pursuant to the decision taken in the august house of Atsum general assembly at Ukhrul district, the proposed 24 hours bandh from midnight of March 12 will go ahead,” it added

Atsum had called the bandh in hill districts denouncing government’s failure to issue notification for holding elections to the six existing ADCs of Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

It may be noted that the terms of the current ADCs had expired in May last year. However, the state government extended the terms for six months citing inconveniences in holding the elections during the rainy season, among other reasons.

Last year, Atsum had deferred its proposed bandh on two occasions following agreements with the state government.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has appealed to withdraw the bandh stating that the state authority is taking up necessary steps to prevent spread of Covid 19 pandemic after the report of second wave in some states by restricting certain activities in upcoming Yaoshang festival etc.