The Joint Tribal Students’ Body Manipur (JTSBM) has suspended the indefinite hill area bandh considering the hardships faced by the general public due to bandh, according to a media release.
In a release by spokesperon Thangtinlen Haokip of the JTSBM said that they have decided to suspend the indefinite hill area bandh.
However, the agitation with blockade on national highways – Jiribam-Imphal, Moreh-Imphal and Dimapur-Imphal will be continued.
The JTSBM called the indefinite hill area bandh from 6 am of July 23 demanding return of normalcy in Manipur University, stringent actions against those involved in July 13 Moreh terror incident, arrest of Kuki Students’ Organization(KSO) activists for their alleged violent acts on July 6, 2018 in Churachandpur etc.
Even though they welcomed the decision to appoint a pro vice chancellor to assist the Vice Chancellor (VC), the students’ body denounced the decision of the all political parties meeting led by the Chief Minister on July 22 that the VC of Manipur University (MU) ‘be asked to proceed on leave pending the proceedings of the fact finding committee’.
Meanwhile, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has condemned the calling of indefinite bandh in the name of the tribal.
In a statement, secretary information publicity of the students union Micah Kamei said the ATSUM neither recognizes any joint tribal organizations nor welcome mushrooming of the non-mandated organization and appealed to the media to authenticate first to avoid confusion amongst the public.
ATSUM has been working for the tribal students ever since it came into being as an apex tribal organization.
On the other hand, KSO general headquarters has claimed that the allegation regarding the unwanted act by KSO Churachandpur members on July 6 has been investigated and found to be baseless and lacking proper evidence.
KSO in a release to media said the central executive committee of the student organization resolved that the bandh called in the hill areas of Manipur will not be supported.