60-hour bandh called in Manipur's Churachandpur district

Imphal, Sept 8: A 60-hour bandh is on at Churachandpur from today to protest against three bills passed in Manipur Assembly relating to the protection of indigenous people of the state.

The bandh called by Joint Action Committee (JAC) of tribal organisations started at 12 noon, JAC sources said.

JAC has given a 10-days ultimatum to Hill Area Committee of Manipur Assembly to withdraw the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 which were passed on August 31.

The sources said if the Hill Area Committee failed to withdraw the bills, all its members would face public boycott.

Police said the situation in Churachandpur district was under control and there was no report of any untoward incident so far.

All educational institutes, including government or private run schools and colleges, were closed as JAC announced closure of educational institutions located at Churachandpur town till the disposal of nine bodies, who died last week in the agitation against the passage of the bills.

The JAC has said the bodies will not be claimed by their families until the bills were withdrawn.

PTI