IT News
Imphal, Oct 29:
Normalcy amidst hard time due to COVID-19 pandemic has been severely disrupted at almost all Pangal (Muslim) dominated area in the state as student bodies of the community called 48 hours general strike denouncing foul play while providing reservation quotas for Muslim (Pangal) in the selection lists to colleges under DM University.
Large number of people belonging to the Muslim community were seen at the street at Hatta, Pangei road, Imphal Ukhrul road in Imphal East, Hiyangthang in Imphal West and also at Lilong in Thoubal district supporting the general strike called by the All Manipur Muslim Students Organisation (AMMSO) and Pangal Students Union Dhanamanjuri University (PSUDU). The general strike supporters blocked road at the middle of the road and stopped all sorts of vehicular movement along the road.
At Khurai Heigru Makhong police vehicles and some VIPs with escort party were seen allowing movement but the general strike supporters stopped all civilian movement. Some security forces were seen present near the place where the general strike supporters burn tyres in the middle of the road but seem helpless to control the situation.
At Hapta near Minuthong, large number of people halted all sort of vehicular movement forcing to turn back. This reporter witnessed the general strike supporters forcing the vehicle of former Minister Th. Shyamkumar who came along with his escort to return back towards where he came from. Some of the supporters turn hostile and they not only stopped vehicular movement but pelted stone towards any vehicles.
Large number of police team led by SP Imphal East throng to the site and tried to control the situation with extra care to ensure that nobody got hurt. This reporter saw the police team with baton and stone shield marching towards the general strike supporters showing intimidation to disperse the gathering strike supporters. The first move show the police team led by the SP Imphal East shouting the strike enforcers to stop violence however, as the supporter pelted stones, the police force fired several round of tear gas shell to disperse the strike supporters. Around 4 persons including 2 women were reported injured in the police action. Later, the police put the situation under control.
At Lilong area large number of strike supporters came out on the National Highway and blocked the road since early morning today. Police team which rushed to the site face hard times in controlling the situation as the strike supporters went hostile. The police team fired several rounds of tear gas shell and also charged with baton to control the situation. At least 2 persons were reported injured in the police action.
Mention may be made that the All Manipur Muslim Students Organisation (AMMSO) and Pangal Students Union Dhanamanjuri University (PSUDU) had alleged foul play and irregularities to the selection of students for admission to the four colleges under DM University in Muslim minority quota. Further the students’ bodies had also been demanding clarification on the matter to the Education (U) department and also urged the government to implement 4% reservation quotas for OBC (Meitei Pangal) in General Courses (Non-professional) of Higher Education from this Academic Session 2020-21.
