Manipur, IMPHAL, September 6: The 12-hour-bandh called today by the North East Students’ Organization demanding deportation of illegal immigrants from the region and security for students and professionals from the North East studying and working across the country has crippled normal life in the state.
Inter-state and inter-district bus services remained offed the roads, while the main markets of the state including the Khwairamband Keithel remained closed.
Most offices and educational institutes also remained closed during the day.
The numbers of private vehicles plyong on the roads were negligible.
Almost all the oil pump in the state remained closed.
However there were no reports of any untoward incidents during the bandh.
The bandh also seriously affected normal life in Jiribam sub division with almost all shops and market area remaining closed.
Passenger services were suspended. Election campaigns for the forthcoming General Panchayat Election were also not visible during the bandh.
Meanwhile, AMSU a constituent body of NESO called a press meet at its head office, DM College campus at 6:30 pm.
Speaking to media persons, MD Abdul Haque Shah, vice-president of AMSU, thanked the people, civil organizations, student bodies, clubs, meira paibis, transport associations/unions, vendors and shops and other individuals for supporting the 12-hour-total bandh.
He continued that the 12-hour-total bandh was called by the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) in six of the Northeastern states of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura, today from 5 am to 5 pm, to protest against the discrimination, threatening, beatings and even killing faced by the peoples of Northeastern states at various main cities of the country.
He further continued that during the imposition of the bandh, supporters damaged 25 vehicles.
Seven AMSU volunteers and two meira paibis were arrested by the police along with two Honda Activa mopeds for supporting the bandh.
The AMSU has urged for the unconditional release of the arrested persons and the two moped.
He identified the arrested seven as AMSU Imphal West secretary general, Laishram Premkumar, Kirankumar, games and sports secretary, DM College of Science, Thoudam Boynao, student, DM College of Commerce, Heigrujam William, student, DM College of Science, Thoudam Premkumar, student, DM College of Commerce, Ningthoujam Mani, student, Manipur College and Haobitan Samuel, student, CC Higher Secondary School.
The two arrested meira paibis have been identified as Rk Leima and Rk Ashalata both from Ningthoukhong.
The registration number of the two seized moped by police are MN-OI-Z-4914 and MN-OI-R-2845.
He continued that the volunteers also resorted to burning of tyres at several locations blocking vehicular traffic. The areas include Khurai Lamlong Bazar, Lamlai Bazar, Pangei, New Checkon, Khergao-Imphal road, Porompat, Khuyathong, Nagamapal, Uripok, Sagolband-Tera, Keishampat, Keishamthong, Kakwa, Langthabal, Singjamei, DM college Gate, Thinungei, Moirang, Pangong-Kongba road, Kanglapat, Lanthabal, Khwairamband, Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar.
AMSU also damaged vehicles and blocked roads at Lamai, Lamlong, Khundrakpam-Pangei, Chingmeirong, DM College gate, Nagamapal, RIMS gate, Kakwa, Keishampat, Lilong Bazar, Yairipok Bazar, Thoubal, Wangjing, Khongjom, Kakching Lamkhei, Wabagai Bazar, Moirang, Ningthoukhong, Nambol, Khergao, Langthabal, Khwairamband and Jiribam, he said.
