Manipur Shutdown: Arrested ATSUM leaders to be in police custody till Aug 6

The situation continues to remain tense in the hill districts of the state amid the emergency shutdown called by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM).

The shutdown has intensified after the 5 arrested ATSUM leaders were sent to 4-day police custody by the CJM court in Imphal West yesterday.

The ATSUM leaders among which are the union’s president, general secretary, and publicity secretary, will now remain in police custody till August 6.

The ATSUM leaders were arrested on Tuesday ahead of the 24 hours’ hill districts shutdown called by the organisation demanding to table of the Manipur Hill Areas ADC bill in the ongoing session of the Assembly.

The town of Churachandpur today remained mostly deserted during the morning hours as the shutdown continues to be in force. Now with the ATSUM upping the ante, the shutdown may take longer than what was initially expected.

From Senapati to Churachandpur, markets and shops remain closed and vehicles are kept off the roads as various hill areas-based student unions have extended their support to the ATSUM shutdown.

In areas like Churachandpur, the shutdown has been total with shops, business establishments, educational institutions, and even government offices remaining closed.

However, no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere as such. In Churachandpur the KSO has also extended full support to the ATSUM bandh.

After the arrest of the five ATSUM leaders on Tuesday, the organisation has intensified the protest and is continuing the shutdown till the ATSUM leaders are released unconditionally and the ADC Hill Areas Bill 2021 is tabled in the Assembly.

Earlier, the ATSUM lashed out at the State government for allegedly manipulating the tribal populace of the state by introducing what it called ‘Vested interest individual bills’ by eliminating the word ‘Autonomous’ from it.

The Apex tribal student body also lashed out at Manipur Tribal Affairs and Hill Areas Minister Letpao Haokip for introducing the Manipur Hill Areas District Council Bill 2022.