JIRIBAM, November 26: All passenger vehicles plying on the Jiribam-Imphal and Jiribam-Tamenglong routes stopped their service after a blockade was launched by four student organisations from today`™s midnight.
The All Manipur Student`™s Union (AMSU), District committee, Jiribam; Democratic Students`™ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Local Council; Manipur Students`™ Front, Special Branch, Jiribam; and Kangleipak Students Association (KSA), Jiribam Branch have imposed the blockade in protest against the government turning a blind eye to their demands.
However, the railways and trucks continue their service as they were escorted by security personnel.
The bandh called along the National Highway affected normal life as counters of passenger service providers remained close.
However, no untoward incidents were reported today.
Security personnel are being deployed to provide security cover on either sides of the National Highway in Jiribam.
It may be recalled here that the students`™ bodies had demanded the government to fill in the vacancies of 148 teachings staffs in Jiribam including primary school and graduate (arts and science) teachers, and lecturers.
However, the selection list published on September 9 appointed only 125 teachers that included seven teachers who were found to have furnished fake documents.
As a result, there are still 30 vacancies of teaching staffs in Jiribam. The students`™ bodies launched the ongoing blockade after the government failed to appoint the 30 teaching staffs within November 20, the deadline they had set.
The students`™ bodies in Jiribam have been urging the State government to appoint the required teaching staffs in the sub-division when the academic session resumed this year.
However, the government is yet to appoint all the required teaching staffs even as the year is drawing to a close. It clearly indicates the indifference of the government towards the plight of the students in Jiribam, lamented the student bodies.