Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 27 2009:
Over 100 vehicles including 12 inter-state passenger buses stranded at Mao gate owing to the twin 24-hour bandhs - highway bandh imposed by Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) and hill areas bandh imposed People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), Manipur.
The Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) imposed the 24-hour bandh on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 in protest against the government failure to repair the dilapidated national highway-39, the lifeline of people of Manipur.
Transporters and drivers bodies were extending support to the bandh.
It will be concluded at midnight.
The hill bandh commenced from last midnight covering the entire five hill districts of the state was imposed by the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), Manipur, a political party in Manipur hills with alleged step motherly treatment of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government towards the hill people.
The party is demanding amendment of the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Area) Act, 1956, framing of rules under Manipur Reservation in posts & services (for SC/ST) Act, enactment of Land Law, framing laws for protection of natural resources exclusively for the hill district of Manipur, non-development of IRB/Commandos and VDF in the hill districts and additional recruitment of VDF in the hill areas.
"We imposed the bandh as government failed to give any positive response even though the deadline served had expired on October 28 last," said Paothing Vasum, general secretary of the party when contacted.
He also threatened to launch various forms of agitation if government remains in mute.
Owing to the bandh, a total of 117 vehicles including 12 inter-state buses, 65 oil tankers and 50 freight trucks stranded at Mao gate, a report from Mao gate received here said.
Most of the vehicles arrived this morning from Dimapur, Guwahati and other places.
Senapati bound inter-district passenger bus services from Imphal were also suspended for the day.
However, police report said that some passenger and other vehicles ply on the NH-39 upto Kangpokpi.
The hill bandh paralyzed normal life across the four hill districts.
Passenger buses from the district headquarters of Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts did not arrived at Imphal for the day.
Reports from the district headquarters said that all shops, business establishments remained closed.
Attendances in government offices also thin.
No untoward incident reported during the bandh hour from any part of the hill districts.