40 women begin fast unto death stir demanding Sadar Hills district

Protestors blocking the NH-39, demanding from the state government of Manipur to declare Sadar Hills as a full fledged district. (NNN Photo)

Imphal | August 16 :
With Manipur government not showing any sign of buckling under pressure over the demand for a full fledged Sadar Hills district, the ongoing agitation has been intensified with about forty women from different places of the distraught Sadar Hills launching a fast unto death stir.
At least forty women supporters of the general strike, which was launched under the auspices of Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC), commenced their fast unto death stir today at Kangpokpi, Keithelmanbi, Sapermeina and Motbung, all falling on National Highway 39. Reports said that the number is expected to progressively rise as supporters from far flung areas arrive in the coming days.   
It is worth noting that the economic blockade that was imposed by SHDDC beginning midnight of July 31, tentatively for seven days, quickly turned into an indefinite general strike across Sadar Hills, barely two days after the blockade began, following the death of three women in a blockade related incident.
Since the beginning of the agitation, the state government invited the striking party for two separate rounds of talks but the parleys failed to hammer out any solution to the vexed issue. Mediators of SHDDC, including MLAs and members of Sadar Hills ADC, have been camping at New Delhi issue since August 13, seeking appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Several people have also been killed in a strike related incidents so far and a dozen vehicles razed by the agitators. The state has been completely cut off from the rest of the country via National Highways 39 and 53, which are the arterial transit conduits for sustenance in the state.     
Significantly, given the wretched consequence of inflation generated by the agitation, the state government, a few days ago, issued a stern ultimatum to SHDDC to lift blockade imposed on both the highways before August 15 or face a merciless crackdown by security forces. The no-nonsense Ibobi led government has time and again given out a strong message that it will not be cowed down by agitators trying to have their way without regards to public goods.
In an attempt to confront and upset a crackdown on the agitation by security forces, more than a thousand people assembled together at Gamgiphai today armed with sticks and catapults. There was no intervention however by the security forces, apparently because many of the state police personnel have been engaged as security convoys to ferry in stranded goods-laden trucks between Jiribam and Imphal.    
Latest news reported that more than 200 loaded trucks have reached Awang Khul on National Highway 53, heading for Imphal under heavy security cover. The convoy is expected to reach here early Wednesday morning.  
Meanwhile, senior opposition MLA of Manipur People’s Party (MPP) O Joy today told the media that Sadar Hills should be immediately declared as a full fledged district for administrative convenience.
He said that the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front government has miserably failed to address the issue which has been needlessly dragging on for the 16th day today, he alleged.
The opposition MLA also said that the issue of Sadar Hills will be put up for discussion in the forthcoming monsoon session of the state assembly slated to begin from August 24.
Sadar Hills district ought to be created, along with other such demands like Jiribam, etc. for administrative expediency and to usher in speedy development, the veteran politician said and added that the issue should not be particularized.