SDSA, KSO-SH say no to ATSUM bandh

Senapati, October 21, 2014: The Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) and Kuki Students' Organization-Sadar Hills (KSO-SH) have claimed that the proposed bandh as announced by ATSUM (Muan Tombing group) will not be effective in Senapati district as both the student bodies are not part of the agitation.

In separate press statements, General Secretary of SDSA, Shakpa Maram and KSO-SH General Secretary Lamcha stated that any confusion over the bandh should not prevail in the minds of the people as the bandh does not cover the district.

Irked by non fulfilment of various demands, Muan Tombing led ATSUM announced the resumption of the third phase of its agitation under the code name ROTO (Reckoning of the Other) from October 20 midnight in the form of indefinite blockade on State and National highways, banning of National projects including railway construction works along Jiri-Tupul and directing tribal people to stay away from Manipur Sangai Festival to be held in November.

The charter of demands put up by ATSUM among others includes clearing the disparity which exists in education sector in the hills, executive and administrative vacuum in the hill districts, manipulation of development fund, negligence in reservation of tribal quota, exploitation of land and resources, oppressed situation of the tribals in Manipur, non-existence of State Chief Information Commissioner and non-fulfillment of flagship programmes under MGNREGA and other schemes.

Source: The Sangai Express