Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20:
Following a marginal improvement in the situation at Churachandpur today, the indefinite curfew which was imposed from 11 am yesterday was relaxed from 2 pm till 6 pm today.
Even as the curfew was relaxed for a few hours, the Govt team which reached Churachandpur today managed to convince the agitating ZSF members to talk to them.
An official source informed that the curfew was relaxed for a few hours today and added that due course of action will be taken up according the situation.
The team led by Tribal Development Minister Phungzathang Tonsing managed to convince the agitating students to come to the negotiating table today.
Though the students at first refused to talk things over, the team managed to convince them to come to the negotiating table.
Significantly though, the president and general secretary of ZSF did not take part in the talk today.
The Govt representatives assured the students that their demands would be aired to the Chief Minister.
The demands of ZSF include filling up vacant posts of teachers in the district, adequate infrastructure in Government offices and ex-gratia of 11 people killed by security personnel and militants.
As the team was not authorised to give in to the demands of the student, they instead offered to be the mediator between the students and the Govt which was accepted by ZSF.
A well placed source said that of the 11 people killed for whom the ZSF has demanded ex-gratias, nine were from CCpur district while two were from Jiribam in Imphal East district.
Out of the nine people of CCpur, the DC has already recommended compensation for 8.