Manipur: Shutdown in hill districts after ATSUM leaders’ arrest

Imphal: Following the detention of four leaders of the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) by Manipur police on Tuesday evening, an indefinite emergency shutdown has been imposed across the hill districts in Manipur.

The four tribal student leaders were picked up from ATSUM office over the proposed 24-hour total shutdown in the hill districts of the state from 6 pm of August 3 till 6 pm of August 4 to press the state government for tabling of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 in the ongoing second session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Denouncing the undemocratic act by the state government, the ATSUM federating units, including All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), had demanded release of the arrested ATSUM leaders before 6 pm of Tuesday evening and warned of an emergency shutdown if they were not released within the stipulated time.