Kuki students’ bandh hits trade at Moreh

IMPHAL: Commercial activities between India and Myanmar were hit at the border town of Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district on Friday owing to a 24-hour bandh called by Kuki Students’ Organisation, General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ), demanding release of its 10 arrested executives without any condition.
The police had arrested the ten executives of KSO’s Gunpi block in connection with the arson at St Jospeh School at Sugnu in Chandel district on April 25.All of them are in judicial custody at present.
The statewide strike, which began on Thursday midnight, also hit life in several Kuki-dominated areas of the hill districts. A large number of vehicles coming from Dimapur and Silchar are stranded at various places along NH-39 and 37. So far, there have been no reports of damage vehicles during the bandh. Movement of emergency, essential and ceremonial-related vehicles was not affected.
A large number of passenger buses and trucks carrying essential commodities from Dimapur to Imphal along NH-39 are stranded at Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district. Vehicles coming from Silchar were stopped at Leingangpokpi near Jiribam along NH-37, a source said. The vehicles would be allowed to move towards Imphal after the bandh ends on Friday midnight.
Besides paralyzing commercial activities between India and Myanmar at Moreh, the bandh also hit business at the nearby Namphalong market in the neighbouring country. Along the Imphal-Moreh section of Asian Highway 2, hordes of bandh supporters came out to prevent movement of vehicles.