The Joint Tribal Student Bodies (JTSB), Manipur has relaxed the indefinite blockade on national highways in hill areas of Manipur with immediate effect until the next round of meeting scheduled to be held within two days, according to a media release.
The step has been taken following an understanding reached between the JTSB team and the State Government during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s office on Tuesday, it said.
At the invitation from the Chief Minister N Biren Singh for talks, representatives of the JTSB, Manipur – a federation body of Thadou Students’ Association (TSA), Rongmei Naga Students’ Organization, Liangmai Naga Katimai Luangdi and the representatives of Zomi Students’ Federation held a meeting with the Chief Minister, it said.
The meeting was positive as the Chief Minister assured for another round of meeting within the next two days to chalk out the details of the agreement, it said, adding that the outcome of this meeting will decide the next course of step/action.
The demands that were discussed in the meeting according to the release include issues pertaining to the on-going impasse in Manipur University, July 13 Moreh terror attack and the incidents of alleged intimidation and assault of peaceful protesters and student leaders during the JTSBM’s bandh on July 6.
Earlier JTSBM has suspended the indefinite hill area bandh considering the hardships faced by the general public due to bandh while imposing blockade on national highways – Jiribam-Imphal, Moreh-Imphal and Dimapur-Imphal.
Meanwhile, the All Tribal Students Union Manipur had already condemned the calling of indefinite bandh in the name of the tribals.
In a statement, it said the ATSUM neither recognize any joint tribal organizations nor welcome mushrooming of the non-mandated organization and appealed the media to authenticate first to avoid confusion amongst the public.
On the other hand, the Kuki Students Organization (KSO) Churachandpur has announced 24 hours total shutdown from the July 24 midnight to July 25 midnight in protest against the failure to the law enforcers in nabbing those responsible for disturbing peaceful public life in the recent past.
The students’ organization was unhappy for charging its leaders at ‘all level for its role in maintaining peaceful life without any reservation’.