24-hour strike by NRFM affects normal life in Imphal

IMPHAL, September 21: Normal life was affected in Imphal in view of the 24 hours general strike by the armed group-National Revolutionary Front, Manipur (NRFM) in Manipur on Wednesday.
The strike which was affected from the intervening midnight of September 20 and 21 was called in protest against the ‘forceful’ merger of Manipur with the Indian Union on September 21, 1949.
The state capital wore a desolate look from dawn to dusk. Normal life was severely affected as all transport services including inter-State were suspended for the day. However private and law enforcing parties vehicles were seen on the roads.
Markets, shops, business establishments and educational institutions in the State, particularly in Imphal, were closed for the day. Attendance in Government offices was very thin.
The state capital wore a desolate look from dawn to dusk. Normal life was severely affected as all transport services including inter-State were suspended for the day. However private and law enforcing parties vehicles were seen on the roads.
Markets, shops, business establishments and educational institutions in the State, particularly in Imphal, were closed for the day. Attendance in government offices was very thin.
Court notice on Senapati case: The High Court of Manipur on Wednesday issued notice of motion to the authority of Assam Rifles and the State of Manipur over the prolonged occupation of a Primary Health Sub-Centre (PHSC) at Thonglang Akutpa, Senapati district by the personnel of 25 Assam Rifles since the year 1994, according to Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) Manipur sources.
The PIL was filed by Benna of Thonglang Atongba in Senapati district to restore the service of the said Primary Health Sub-Centre after removal of the Assam Rifles troops.
After hearing the submission of the Petitioner’s counsel, a division bench of Chief Justice Rakesh Ranjan Prasad and Justice Songkhupchung Serto issued notice which is returnable within three weeks.
The Court took serious cognizance of the matter and expressed shock that for the last 22 years, the villagers have been deprived of the public health delivery centre, legal sources said.
According to the counsel, the Assam Rifles troops started occupying the entire premises of the PHSC, which is supposed to cater a population of about 8400 belonging to 13 Senapati villages, since Naga-Kuki ethnic clash in 1994 till date ‘without any due process’. At the same time, the state authority did not provide alternative arrangement for the same. Consequently, villagers are compelled to visit Kangpokpi Community Health Centre and District Hospital, Senapati at their own cost by hiring private vehicles.