KSO calls off proposed indefinite economic blockade

Imphal, May 22: The students’ body took the decision after reaching an understanding in a meeting with the Chief Minister

Following assurance given by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh that all backlog Scehduled Tribe quotas in the constables recruitment will be filled up soon, the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) has withdrawn its proposed indefinite economic blockade. The KSO had on Monday announced imposition of indefinite economic blockade along national highways effective from Tuesday midnight immediately after 24 hours bandh on Tuesday.

A delegation of the KSO (general headquarters) met with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at the later’s office on Tuesday in which an understanding between the two groups was reached. The 24 hours general strike called by the students’ organistion has also been called-off Tuesday afternoon.

Speaking to mediaperson after their meeting with the Chief Minister, KSO president Peter H Mate said five leaders delegation of the students group held talks with the government from 1pm to 2.30pm and discussed about corruption in police recruitment apart from the backlog quotas of the Scheduled Tribe category. A demand for inclusion of clean officers in the DPC was also made to the Chief Minister, the KSO leader added.

When apprised about corrupt practices being followed in police recruitment and Rs 3-5 lakhs bribe usually taken for appointment of a constable, the Chief Minister promised to appoint clean officers as DPC members, Mate said.

Huge backlog of 474 ST posts in the past police recruitment was not due to lack of physically fit candidates but oviously due to the failure on part of the candidates to fulfil bribe amount, Mate said and added that increasing involvement of police (state force) in social crimes/corruption in the state was a result of appointment of unfit candidates.

Meanwhile, the 24 hours general strike called by the students’ organisation since Monday midnight failed to evoke much response except for distruption of normal life in Churachandpur district. Bandh supporters burnt tyres, rubbers, piled up debris along the steerts leading Churachandpur though no such reports are coming forward from other districts of the state.

Our correspondent adds from CCpur: Life in Churachandpur was  thrown  out of gear on Tuesday as bandh supporters of the Kuki Students’ Organisation , KSO, began enforcing abandh in protest against the state government’s negligence.  In many parts of the town areas volunteers deflated tyres and smashes diesel auto- rickshaws . There was no movement of buses and Trucks in the town areas passenger buses plying between Imphal to Churachandpur went off the road. Many schools closed down due to the bandh and attendance of employees to the government offices were negligible.

Though shops opened in both the markets areas of Churachandpur town and Tuibuong turn out of the people as compared to other time was comparatively less.  According to sources there were no reports of nay untoward incidents till the time the bandh was suspended at about 1  PM.