Meanwhile, around 100 goods ferrying trucks along with 11 inter-state passenger buses were stranded at Mao gate owing to the general strike. Even though security escorts were sent to bring them to Imphal, drivers and truckers refused to go with them, the report added.
Before the police rounded up the students a clash took place between the striking tribal students and a group of unknown youths which the tribal students suspected to be hired by some persons with vested interest against their stir, when the former blocked the traffic near the MU campus early morning.
The 36-hour state-wide general strike called by the ATSUM with support from various tribal bodies including the MUTSU commenced from 6 am today. The same will continue till 6 pm tomorrow.
The strike, however, did not have much impact on the people as plying of vehicles on the roads in most parts of the state including in the hill districts was reportedly normal. Shops and other establishments also remained open, reports collected from various sources said.
Tribal student agitators being taken away in police trucks after arrest during the 36-hour general strike called by the MUTSU at the Manipur University on the reservation issue for tribals on Monday in Imphal.
However, services of the passenger buses along the national highways and inter-district roads were suspended for the day owning to the general strike.
In the early hour today, at least 117 tribal students including leaders of the Manipur University Tribal Students Union, MUTSU and All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur, ATSUM who took to the streets along the Indo-Myanmar section to block the traffic were detained by the police.
Among the detained students were MUTSU president Sonthang Haokip and former president Gaisingam along with two core committee members, John Pamei and Helmang Touthang. ATSUM president Dr John Pulamte and general secretary Thomas Thysia were also among the detained students.
Before this, the agitating students had broken windshields of at least three vehicles allegedly for violating the general strike which could not make much impact in most parts of the state except in some places in Senapati district.
As many as 100 goods ferrying trucks coming from outside the state along the Imphal Dimapur section of the NH-39 along with inter-state passenger buses arriving at Mao gate this morning remained stranded there.
Reports said that the truckers and drivers of the stranded vehicles refused to proceed with the security escorts personnel lamenting that the number of escort personnel was very less and they would not be able to protect them from possible attacks from the strike supporters.
The ATSUM imposed the 36-hour state-wide general strike from 6 am today till 6 pm of tomorrow in protest against the proposed interview programme set by the Manipur University authorities for appointment of guest lecturers in the history department of the university despite their demand for enforcement of state reservation policy in the university even though it has been taken over by the Centre.
Mention may be made that MUTSU with the support of other tribal students bodies in the state has been pressing the state government and MU authorities to maintain the status quo of state reservation policy in the university stating that Centre’s reservation policy on education sector is not suited for application in the state where schedule tribe population is far greater than that of schedule caste.
Today, at the first hour of the commencement of the general strike, around one hundred tribal students under the MUTSU took to the streets nearby the MU campus and smashed some vehicles.
While they were engaging in blocking the road some youths who the ASTUM alleged were sent by some vested interests confronted them leading to injuries to many tribal students. One of the students, named Chasang Baite was hospitalized due to injuries in the wild fracas.
Later, police intervened and fired tear gas and used mob dispersion equipment to disperse the students. The youths who attacked the tribal students, however, vanished before the police could round them up.
The agitating tribal students, who were still at the site were picked by the police and detained at the Singjamei police station.
After the clash and following the detention of the students of the MU, another group of tribal students of the university took to the streets and police once again rounded them up as high tension prevailed among the students of the same university.
The general strike, on the other hand, could not get good response from the people as normal traffic on the streets in Imphal and other important routes were normal.
Reports collected from other districts including from the five hill districts also indicated less response to the general strike except in some parts of the Senapati district.
Meanwhile, strongly condemning the detention of tribal students, the strikers have demanded immediate release of the students detained by the police.
The striking body in a statement today blamed the MU authorities of “wear and tear” policy and demanded government intervention for bringing social justice to all sections of the people of the state.
The Senapati Students’ Association also in a statement today expressed strong condemnation of the police and sought immediate release of the students.
They also condemned the mishandling of striking students by a mob stating that it was a direct confrontation with the tribal community.
It also acknowledged the effort of the ATSUM and MUTSU in demanding the rightful claim of the tribal reservation.
The district students body also threatened to launch many forms of agitation if the authorities do not fulfill their demands.
Source: Imphal Free Press
No comments:
Post a Comment