Manipur shutdown cripples normal life

Imphal: Normal life in Manipur was disrupted today in response to a 12-hour strike called by the All Manipur Students’Union (AMSU) to protest the bomb blast on the outskirts of the capital in Imphal West district.
All transport services between Manipur and rest of neighbouring states were cancelled because of the strike which began at 5 am, an official said.
The strike exempted media and essential services like medical and water supply.

A policeman guards the site of a bomb blast at Sangapham Bazar in Imphal East on Monday. PTI

Five persons were killed and at least eight others seriously injured when suspected militants exploded a powerful bomb at Sangakpham area near the guest house of Autonomous District Council (ADC) office on Monday.
An official statement said the blast was triggered by the militant outfit, NSCN-IM.
The Manipur government conducted elections to the six autonomous district councils late last year but it was opposed by some hill-based organisations who demanded extension of sixth schedule of the Constitution to all six hill districts of Manipur.
These organisations in separate statements did not favour holding elections to autonomous district councils where elections were not held for over 20 years.
Manipur’s total area is 22,327 square km out of which 90 percent constitutes hill areas where less than 40 percent of the population lives.