Manipur in the grips of bandhs, blockades

By Satyajit Usham

A series of general strikes, bandhs and economic blockades being imposed by various social organisations have left the people of the Northeastern state of Manipur high and dry for the last three days.

NORMAL LIFE in the Northeastern state of Manipur remained affected for the third consecutive day due to the 120-hour general strike and the indefinite economic blockade called by two separate student organisations over different demands since July 15 midnight.

Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has imposed the 120-hour state wide bandh demanding release of the student leaders arrested and detained under National Security Act in the aftermath of murder of Prof Md Islamuddin, the Proctor of Manipur University. The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) went ahead with the indefinite economic blockade in connection with its demands to amend the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Services (For SC and ST) Act, 2007 and select suitable site for setting up the proposed campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University among others.

Though DESAM has announced shortening of the general strike to 72 hours in the interest of the upcoming compartmentary examinations of CBSE and Manipur Board, ATSUM has threatened to take recourse to more intense agitations if the state government fails a positive response to its demand.

Even as another 12-hour general strike called by the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF), which is demanding early election to the Autonomous District Councils crippled normal activities in the hill districts from 6 am to 6 pm, Naga frontal organisations including United Naga Council (UNC); All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM) and Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) have jointly resolved to call a 48-hour total bandh with effect from 5 am of July 20, to oppose the State Cabinet decision of deploying IRB personnel and Police Commandos in the hill districts.

With exception to some stray incidents of targeting autorickshaw drivers by suspected bandh, supporters in some areas of Greater Imphal area, there is no report of any untoward incidents. However, with prolonged bandh and blockade that has cut off the transportation line between this land-locked state with other parts of the country from where most of the essential commodities are brought in, prices of goods in markets has soared up leaving the people, who are already reeling under the impact of long dry spell and crop failure, high and dry literally.

Recruitment rally affected by bandh

IMPHAL, July 18 : The third day of the Army recruitment rally held in Senapati saw a mixed response with only about 1,100 youth participating in it. July 16 was earmarked for candidates hailing from Imphal east and west districts.

Although the bandh and blockade called by various student organisations like DESAM in Imphal and ATSUM in hill districts from mid-night July 15 had little effect on the move of the passenger buses and taxis on NH-39, probably some prospective candidates chose to remain home.

On July 17 the rally was open to youth of Churachandpur and Chandel districts.

Two from Class X, 11 from XII exam expelled

Imphal, February 28 : Two students have been caught using unfair means on day one of the state HSLC and HSSLC examinations today by a team of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) from Heingang centre in Imphal East district.

Speaking to reporters this evening at AMSU head office, DESAM education secretary Thoithoi said that the ongoing Class X and XII examinations are closely scrutinized by fourteen teams, a team comprising of four members each, of AMSU-DESAM.

A team which when to the Heingang High School Centre has come across two students, both HSLC candidates, using unfair means, Thoithoi said while disclosing their roll numbers as 18261 and 18275. Thoithoi said that the two students have carried the English, today's examination paper, question bag inside the examination hall.

He said that the incident happened at the examination centre room number 4 and 5 while also saying that the invigilators were Manichandra Mutum and W Promila respectively.

Thoithoi also said that a lady who identified herself as an SDC has asked the AMSU-DESAM team not to cause disturbance at the centre and told them that it is not their rights to inspect the examination centre.

He said that the it is very unfortunate on the part of the lady who identified herself as an officer to pass such remarks to the team.

He makes it clear that the AMSU-DESAM team has never broke any examination rule while saying that the team is just to check the use of unfair means to make the education system more productive.

Saying that the use of unfair means by students shows that the authorities have sanctioned them to do so, Thoithoi said that there would have been no need of students' bodies.

Addressing reporters, AMSU organisation secretary, W Dhananjoy said that security personnel and examination authority of Imphal College centre have denied cooperation to the team though the members have produced their visit card.

However, he said that the students' bodies will continue to check the use of unfair means by the students while appealing the authorities and the securities not to cause mess to the team.

Meanwhile, eleven candidates of HSSLC exam have been expelled today for using unfair means on the first day.

The expelled students are roll numbers 1489 of Khundrakpam private centre, 9509 of Mayang Imphal private centre, 18359 of Wangoi private centre, 015, 027, 033, 044, 059, 158,6187 and 6161 of Chandel private centre.

Revision of HSLC exam prog demanded

Imphal, Jan 12 : PARENTS AND guardians of the students appearing in the up coming HSLC exam 2009 have demanded revision of the programme of the examination which would be commenced from February 27 alleging that authorities failed to focus on the revision time to be given to students during the exam period.

Apart from not giving enough time for revision of the students in the examination programme, the authority fixed programme on the Id-Ul Milat, said the parents and guardian in a meeting held today at Manipur Press Club organized jointly by the AMSU and DESAM.

Among other, the meeting resolved to constitute a committee of the parents and guardians of the students appearing in the forthcoming exam and to press the authority of the Board of Secondary Education Manipur to revise the exam programme so as to give enough time for revision by the students.

The meeting also expressed condemnation to the authority of not considering and making exam programme on Id-Ul Milat, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslim community.

Jiri meet urges for power supply

Jiribam, Dec 28 : A joint public meeting attended by different social organisations and student bodies of Jiribam has resolved to urge upon the authority concerned to restore electricity supply to the area at the earliest.

The public meeting held at the office of the All Jiribam United Clubs' Association (AJUCA) was attended by representatives of Jiri Development Organisation (JDO), AJUCA, MSF, DESAM and MSF.

A memorandum demanding immediate restoration electricity supply to Jiribam sub-divisional town has been sent to the authority concerned.

Notably, Jiri town has been without electricity since December 25 .

The joint also urged upon the State Government to station sufficient employees at the power station of Kadamtala, Jiribam.

Another resolution of the meeting was the demand to inaugurate the 20 KV power station of Jiri within 10 days.

It also appealed to all sections of the society to co-operate in the smooth functioning of Electricity Department at Jiribam.