Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, Februiary 4
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 12-hour dawn to dusk statewide general strike has affected the normal life in the state today.However there is no report of any untoward incident during the course of the strike which concludes at 5 pm.
The strike was called by United Committee Manipur (UCM) as part of extending support to the ongoing indefinite on Imphal-Moreh route over the frequent harassment of villagers besides imposing restriction to their free movement by troops 24 Assam Rifles deployed along the Tengnoupal sector of the highway.The normal life in the state capital has been severely affected as most of the market places and other business establishments along with the educational institutions remained closed since early morning in view of the general strike.At the same time, most all the inter state passenger and good carriers including the noisy auto-rickshaws failed to hit the Imphal roads in view of the strike. However reports from the popular bus stands in Imphal claimed that few passenger vehcicles from outside the state reached Imphal in ther afternoon without any disturbance during the strike.As the strike was supported by the transporters and drivers bodies, movement of commercial vehicles was not seen except the private vehicles. Though the general strike could not affect the normal functioning of the air traffic at Imphal international airport and also at some of the hill district headquarters, there are reports of poor attendance of some of the important departments including the state secretariat in Imphal.
Meanwhile the United Naga Council (UNC) condemned and seriously questioned the irresponsible and immature behavior of the 24 Assam Rifles for allegedly caging the villagers of Tengnoupal block in Manipur’s chandel district from 6 pm to 5 am and also in delaying the commuters along Imphal-Moreh Road wait for a very long hours to check their vehicle and belonging in the name of security reasons or otherwise.
In another development, the the newly formed Joint Action Committee against the atrocities by centra forces in Chandel district has decided to lift the ongoing indefinite bandh which was on since January 31 along the Imphal-Moreh route from today(February 4) midnight following government’s assurance that the JAC’s demands will be ‘considered’. The assurance was conveyed by the state chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh after chairing a unified command meeting with the security forces this afternoon,sources said.
