Imphal, August 16: The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO)'s sponsored 24 hours total bandh will begin from midnight of August 16.KSO and ANSAM, however said that educational institutions, medical services and the movement of security forces personnel will be exempted from the purview of the bandh.

The Kuki and the Naga students' bodies said that it had already placed their demands earlier which include the improvement of the "terrible, death-defying" condition of National Highway 39.The statement said that the appeals to the State Government had fallen on deaf ears.

It further stated that as such the two students' bodies have no other alternative but to stick to its terms that was made in its press release of August 7 by launching a series of agitation.

KSO and ANSAM have also appealed to all the private vehicles, truckers and any other transporters and the general public for the co-operation "as the agitation has been called for the good-will of all".

It then said that "any infringement or violation of the agitation will be sternly dealt with", and added that, "the KSO and ANSAM profoundly expressed their heartfelt regrets for the inconveniences that will cause to the general public.

But the irritable stance of total silence on the part of the Government of Manipur has forcibly drawn the two apex tribal students' bodies in the state to take the road in protest in which any occurrence of unwanted incidents will be the sole responsibility of the state government".

KSO and ANSAM then announced that the movements of all the vehicles and transportations of materials and goods belonging to the PWD will be restricted along the NH-39 for the indefinite period.

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