Tribal body in Manipur threaten to call bandh on highway

Our Correspondent

Imphal, July 21 (EMN): The All Tribal Rights Protection Forum, Manipur (ATRPFM) has threatened to impose bandhs in three national highways from the midnight of July 23 to July 24, if the state government fails to bring solution to their demands on or before July 22.

The three national highways are NH 37 (Imphal-Jiribam), NH 2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and Imphal-Moreh.

The demands of ATRPFM include revocation of the impugned order dated July 8, 2019 issued by the Government of Manipur with regard to transfer and posting of a non-tribal as director in Tribal Affairs and Hills (TA & Hills) department in the state and to transfer Md Rahimuddin Khan, LDC, TA & Hills department (Engineering Section).

ATRPFM had already submitted an ultimatum to the state government of Manipur in this regard, according to sources available here.

“We appeal to stop plying and refrain from public transit along the said three National Highways,” says ATRPFM in an appeal. “However medical/health, water supply, electricity, ritual or religious ceremonies will be exempted from the bandh.”

Meanwhile a functionary of ATRPFM when contacted said that they are not satisfied with the move of the state government.

So the forum will be discussing the matter again on Monday (July 22) for further course of action, he added.

Sources in Imphal claimed that the state government has started to respond positively to one of their demands.