Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 24 (EMN): The Joint Tribal Student 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 Spokesperson 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 continue.
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 Organisation(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 student 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 recognise any joint tribal organisations nor welcome mushrooming of the non-mandated organisation and appealed 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 organisation.
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 organisation resolved that the bandh called in the hill areas of Manipur will not be supported.
Government spokesperson assures
The Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for the recruitment of 139 different posts of Manipur Fire Service will be held in a transparent manner with full video recording, according to newly appointed state government Spokesperson and Moirang constituency MLA P Saratchandra.Speaking to media persons at a press conference held at the Durbar Hall of Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Saratchandra said that the State Government understands the urgent need for filling up the vacancies of the
Manipur Fire Service to meet the manpower requirement of the department, which not only deals with fire-fighting but also with disaster management activities.
The new step has been conceptualised by the State Government to ensure transparency and check manipulation of performance in the recruitment process, he added.
The Spokesperson further said that a senior IPS officer has been appointed as the Director of the Manipur Fire Service so that it may function independently.
Sharing her view, Manipur Fire Service Director RK Meme said that everybody is welcome to lodge any complaint, if any, to her regarding the recruitment process.
She said that appropriate action would be taken if any staff is found indulged in any form of wrongdoing.
She also urged the media to come and inspect the PET which will begin tomorrow and continue till August 25 at Khuman Lampak.
