Imphal 7 August : Many hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on the National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) on Sunday in the midst of a tense situation in which the blockade, dubbed by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) has disrupted regular activities in the hill districts of Manipur officials said. According to police, only a few instances of arson, such as setting a car on fire in the hill districts were reported on both Saturday and Sunday.
The ATSUM called the “economic blockade” on Friday, requesting the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council (Amendment) Bill, 2021 be moved in the state Assembly to give more administrative power and autonomy to tribal autonomous groups.
In response to the tense situation following the tension, the Manipur government has halted data mobile (internet) services for five days in the entire state.
Special Secretary Home, H.Gyan Prakash, in an announcement in the evening of Saturday stated that in light of the situation that could cause serious disruptions to the peaceful co-existence of communities and maintain of public peace, .suspension/curbing of mobile data services in the area of control of Manipur in all of the state of Manipur was ordered.
“.all mobile service providers are now required to ensure the compliance of the order.” the notice stated.
The notice, which cites the Manipur Director General of Police stated that in Bishnupur district an incident took place on Saturday , along NH-2.one van was discovered burning after being set on fire by a group of youths.
District Magistrates of Bishnupur and Churachandpur have also issued prohibitory orders under Sections of 144 of the CrPC for an amount of two months in these districts.
Police said that a number of trucks loaded with goods and essential commodities were stuck in the National Highway-2, which connects Manipur with the rest of the country via Nagaland.
Around 30 tribal members were wounded in Imphal the weekend after the police stifled an impassioned protest that led to a scuffle between two parties.Five tribal student leaders were detained and were sent to jail for 15 days.
In the wake of the release of its leaders who are in jail The influential student organization ATSUM is threatening to escalate their agitation.
The BJP government led by the Chief Minister N.Biren Singh introduced the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council 6th and 7th amendment bills in the Assembly on Tuesday.However the ATSUM said that the laws are not in the spirit with their demands.
The ATSUM has been in a tumult in the districts of the hill, including Kangpokpi and Senapati for a while, demanding more power to the tribal councils of autonomous district.
In August of last year the Hill Area Committee (HAC) comprised of MLAs of all 20 reserved seats of the tribal government of Manipur – suggested the new Autonomous District Council (ADC) Bill to ensure “equitable development” in the hill districts in the same way similar to those in the valley region of the state.
sc/vd
.
