KANGPOKPI, August 31: The 12 hour total bandh in all hill districts of the State imposed by Kuki Students`™ Organization, All Naga Students`™ Association Manipur and both ATSUM group totally paralysed Senapati district and Sadar Hills today.
The joint tribal students`™ bodies had imposed the bandh lodging their discontentment over the introduction of the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue & land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Manipur Shop & Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the special session of the Manipur Assembly on August 28 in Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Vehicular movement including inter-state passenger buses, essential commodities carriers, wingers along the Imphal-Dimapur highway which has already been affected by the massive landslide in Nagaland was affected in Senapati and Sadar Hills. Local vehicular movement was also massively affected.
Educational institutions, business establishments and Government establishments were closed for the day rendering Senapati DHQ completely deserted from early morning till late in the evening.
Similar state of affairs was witnessed at Kangpokpi and all tribal dominated areas within Sadar Hills.
Bandh supporters burnt tyres and trees along the highway at Kangpokpi, Sapormeina, Motbung, Saikul and Gamgiphai.
At Kangpokpi, bandh supporters burnt effigies of the three bills which was passed by the State Assembly today.
However, no untoward incident has been reported till filling of this report.
Meanwhile, Thangminlen Kipgen, President KSO Sadar Hills speaking to media person at Kangpokpi said that even if the hypersensitive bills have been passed in the Assembly the state Government should be aware of the intense resistance of the tribal people over the bills.
The introduction and passing of the contentious bills evidently demonstrate how ignorant the Manipur Chief Minister is about the interest of the tribal people lamented Thangminlen Kipgen while adding the said bills have gone beyond Article 371C and Manipur Hill People Administration Regulation Act, 1947.
`Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh should resign right away on the ground that he is totally in the dark of the Constitution`, asserted KSO Sadar Hills leader.
Thangminlen Kipgen also further expressed their grave annoyance to the chairman, HAC and other tribal ministers and MLAs for not opposing the bills in the special session of the Manipur Assembly and asked them to step down if they are not capable of being the people representative.
In the meantime, Joseph R Hmar, president ATSUM extended his heartfelt gratitude to all the tribal people who have enthusiastically renders utmost support towards the tribal student bodies stir today and affirmed that ATSUM will momentously opposed any activities which will impede the rights and interest of the tribal people.