Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 06 2010:
Normal life was severely affected in four hill districts of the state, Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and part of Senapati district today due to the down to dusk "chakka bandh" called by various Naga organisations to register strong protest against the government move to conduct elections of the Autonomous (Hills) District Councils (ADCs) in Manipur under the ADC Act (3rd amendment), 2009 .
The normal life likely to continue to paralyze as another 72-hour bandh to be commenced from midnight tonight (April 6 midnight) in the whole of the hill district is coming.
A total of 77 vehicles- 60 loaded trucks, 13 inter-state passenger bus and four 407/DI trucks coming from Dimapur side on the NH-39 stranded at Mao gate bordering with Nagaland owing to the strike which was commenced from 6 am and due to end by 6 pm.
The vehicles reportedly proceeded Imphal as soon as the bandh ended.
The United Naga Council (UNC) with extended supports of other organisations imposed the "chakka bandh" in protest against the conduct of election to the ADCs on the basis of the status of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 which was amended for the third time in 2008 .
They said the 3rd Amendment of the Act in 2008 restored the original status of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971.The 1st Amendment in the year 2000 which gave autonomy was repealed by the 2nd Amendment in 2001 but it was again deleted in the 3rd Amendment in 2008 .
No untoward incidents reported during the 12-hour strike but due to non-plying of vehicles all kinds, normal life in the four districts of Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and part of the Senapati were paralyzed, according to the reports culled out from the respective district headquarters.
No passenger service vehicles arrived from Imphal.
Due to non-arrival of the vehicles, attendants in most of the government offices in the district headquarters were low, the reports said.
The chakka bandh also affected the normal cross border trade at the international border in Moreh.
Non-arrival of businessmen from Imphal to Moreh deserted the Namphalong Market on Myanmar side at the border, a report from Moreh said.
However, the bandh did not affect Churachandpur and Sadar Hills Sub-division of Senapati district even though it was imposed in the entire hill districts.
Normal plying of vehicles of all kinds including passenger buses was seen on the roads of Imphal-Churachandpur and Imphal-Kangpokpi.
The UNC sponsored bandh got supports from People Democratic Alliance, a political party based in the Naga dominated hill areas, All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Naga People Organisation (Senapati), Zeliangrong Interim Body (ZIB) and Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL).
Normal life is likely to continue further as another 72-hour called by the JAC for 2006/2009 Autonomous District Council DPC Faced Candidates' Parents and Guardians, Manipur is going to start from midnight of today (April 6) and will go on till midnight of April 9 .
The body is demanding declaration of results of the DPC conducted for recruitment of teachers of schools run by ADCs or allow joining of 835 teachers who were terminated earlier after nine months of service.