Imphal, August 25: Agreement reached with State Government representatives has resulted in the All Colleges Tribal Students' Organisation Manipur (ACTSOM) to drop its agitation programme while the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Chandel district has decided to suspend its bandh for the time being.

ACTSOM called off its proposed August 27 bandh following a minute discussion between government representatives and leaders of the student organisation at the chief minister's secretariat yesterday, reports Newmai News Network.

The ACTSOM had been threatening to enforce 24 hour bandh from the midnight of August 26.It is pertinent to note that ACTSOM had earlier announced its decision to call a one day Manipur bandh in protest against the physical assault of the student body's deputy speaker allegedly by some MLAs and their security escorts on July 30.The meeting held last evening was also attended by representatives of Tribal Vigilance Forum, Movement for Tribal People's Right, Manipur, All Manipur Scheduled Caste Students' Union, ZYF, apart from representatives of ACTSOM and the Government, NNN quoted ACTSOM leaders as saying.

On the otherhand, KSO Chandel district agreed to suspend its agitation along Imphal-Moreh Road till first week of September as an agreement was arrived at with the Commissioner of Transport.

Prior to the inking of the deal a joint meeting was reportedly held in the office chamber of Transport Minister.

The meeting attended by officials of Transport Department, and functionaries of JAC Transporters' Imphal-Moreh and Moreh-Imphal Jeep & Tata Sumo Taxi Service Welfare Association discussed demands of the student body with regard to improvement of road condition of Imphal-Moreh route and existing transport services.

After a thorough deliberation, it agreed that issue of improvement of road and collection of unauthorised fees at Check posts/gates would be discussed next month.

The meeting is to be held in the office Chamber of Chief Minister along with Ministers, administrative heads and HoDs concerned.

Regarding carrying of goods in the passenger buses, it was decided to have another joint seating in the office chamber of Associate Secretary, STA (I) BK Sharma on August 27 at 11 am with the office bearers of KSO Chandel district and transport societies concerned to adopt a mechanism for providing sufficient number of passenger carriers and to introduce public service vehicles partly for carriage of passengers and partly for goods as per Motor Vehicle Act/Rules on the said route from the existing fleet of passenger buses plying to and from Moreh and subject to proper maintenance of vehicles for public safety, convenience of the public.

Accordingly the student body agreed to suspend its agitation, in public interest, till the proposed meeting in 1st week of September to deliberate on finding a long term solution.

Comment