KANGPOKPI, May 8: The KSO Sadar Hills 24 hr total bandh imposed against the alleged life attempt of Lalhoiphai village chief and a van driver who was grievously beaten at Moidangpok on May 2 and land allotment for Cultural University at L. Tangnaum village has completely cut off the state capital along National Highway 2 today.
Normal life along the Trans Asian Highway No.1 or the NH-2 between Taphou Kuki and Gamgiphai has been drastically affected due to the strike of the student body since all business establishments, educational institutions has been completely closed for the day apart from complete halt of traffic flows.
A large numbers of volunteers are seen blocking the highway at Taphou Kuki and Gamgiphai while various numbers of loaded trucks have been stranded at Hengbung Taxation Check Post along with some passenger vehicles. All business establishment and educational institutions have been closed at Kangpokpi and even local private vehicles were put-off the road although the Government offices hoisted up the national flag, no staffs have been witnessed to attend office due to the bandh.
Similar situation has also been witnessed at Taphou Kuki, Kalapahar, Keithelmanbi, Sapormeina, Motbung and Gamgiphai along the highway.
However, there have been no untoward incidents reported during the bandh till filing of this report.
Meanwhile, the executive body meeting of the KSO Sadar Hills along with Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and other CSOs within Sadar Hills decided to give three days time for the Government to address their charter of demand while resolving to launch indefinite economic blockade from midnight of May 11.
Thangminlen Kipgen alleged that some immature Meetei civil bodies has imposed counter bandh today along New Keithelmanbi area against their protest while adding that such unused activity will not solve the problem but rather ignite unsolicited relation among the two communities. He also said that the alleged communal Manipur Government is all responsible for the incident and termed the state Government ill-equipped and not capable of governing the people while signifying the centre Government to impose President Rule in the state.
The association will give the state Government another three days time to address the charters of demand and if the Government fail to come up constructively, indefinite economic blockade will be followed from midnight of May 11 warned KSO Sadar Hills president.
The student body charter of demands included arrest of culprits involved in Moidangpok incident on May 2 who attempted to murder the innocent van driver, Terminations of those police personnel along with the in-charge commander who forcefully asked the innocent van driver to leave Lalhoiphai village by giving false promise to escort him safely but later handed over to the mob to be killed, to compensate the torched van with a new one and to compensate the medical expenses for the innocent van driver who struggled for life and to shift the proposed site for Cultural University from L.Tangnaum or propose the site through proper channel if desirous.