IMPHAL, AUGUST 26: The Churachandpur District Diesel Auto Union Owners’ on Friday staged a rally by driving their autorickshaws in and around Churachandpur town, about 65 km south of Imphal, to show solidarity to the ongoing movement by Churachandpur-based Joint Action Committee (JAC) against Anti-Tribal Bills in Manipur.
JAC against Anti-Tribal Bills in Manipur, in a statement here, also appreciated the move of auto owners for holding the rally “in protest against the continued indifference of the Union as well as state government towards the plight of the indigenous tribal people in present Manipur,” by calling half day shutdown in the Kuki-Chin-Mizo community dominated hill town and its vicinity on Friday.
As part of continuing their movement, the JAC also announced to call total shut down till 12 noon tomorrow (Saturday) as a tribute to “nine tribal martyrs”.
JAC has also informed that ‘Tribal Unity Day’ will be observed on August 31 as a mark of respect to the nine tribals who died during last year’s agitation against the three bills in Churachandpur.
A statement of the JAC said in the run up to August 31, it will organise a week long agitation including public meetings, torch rallies, traditional gun salutes and other forms of protest in Churachandpur starting from August 26.
It said there will be a 48 hour total shutdown on August 30 and 31 in Lamka and its vicinity with only those participating the Tribal Unity Day given passage. On August 27 by ex-servicemen and widows, senior citizens and college students, on August 29 by womenfolk and on August 30 by the public, it said.
