Sub-Division Demand Committee calls Churachandpur bandh on Oct 19

IMPHAL, October 17: The Saikot Sub-Division Demand Committee (SDDC) has called for total bandh in Tuithaphai valley (Churachandpur town) on October 19 from 6 am to 5 pm after the Manipur government “failed” to appoint and depute SDO staff to their place of posting.
In a statement, the SSDC said that they had submitted their demand for a full-fledged SDO in Saikot to the state government on September 23 through the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur.
“We informed the government our sincere demand through the DC of Churachandpur District and in that letter we mentioned that unless the it fails to act on it by October 15,2016, we would be left with no choice but to start an agitation. The government did not even reply our letter where we expressed our genuine demands,” SSDC chairman Timothy Z. Zote and SSDC secretary R. Lalkaisanga said in a statement.The group said that since the government “failed to our demands seriously we felt the it is only interested in vote bank politics.”“Many in the public are also asking whether we are no longer part of Manipur state to deserve such treatment. As a result, the SSDC is calling for total shut down in Churachandpur town on October 19 starting from 6 to 5 pm,” the leaders said.
The group also appealed to the general public to cooperate during the agitation. “We appeal to everyone to cooperate with us to avoid any untoward incidents especially from our volunteers. Those having vehicles are also requested to respect the bandh and if any incident happens it should not be taken as communal by anyone,” the SSDC said,adding that it has instructed activists to strictly impose the strike.
“The public must be ready to meet any consequences from the state machinery as the government’s attitude shows it never cared about our development and welfare,” it added.
The SSDC’s agitation programme has been endorsed the leadership of major communities like the Kuki Inpi, Zomi Council, Hmar Inpui, Vaiphei Peoples Council, Mizo People Convention and the Hmar National Union. “Student organisations are also lending their moral support to our movement,” it claimed.
“Our demand is for development of the area and not for any specific community. As such, we are getting massive support from community leaders and we expect the public to enforce the bunch effectively,” the SSDC statement added. Churachandpur township (also called Tuithaphai) is inhabited by the Zo tribes like Paite, Hmar, Lushai-Mizo, Vaiphei, Simte, Gangte, Kuki, Zou and other smaller communities.
The press, water supply, electricity, medical, religious activities, airport drop & pick along with students’ transportation would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.