Several tribal student organisations in Manipur, including NSUC and Zillai Chutachandpur, expressed solidarity to the total shutdown called by ATSUM in all hill districts of Manipur from 5 am to 5 pm on Saturday.
The Naga Students Union Chandel (NSUC) stated in a release on Friday that as per the intimation letter sent to NSUC by ATSUM on December 16, and in support of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) recommended ADC bill 2021, the union endorsed the total shutdown on December 18 in the district.
The union is compelled to enforce the said shutdown during the festive season considering the cause for the tribal community which has been suppressed for a long time, the NSUC stated. The union also sought cooperation and support from every responsible citizen to frontal organisations, village authorities, women societies, youth clubs and churches to the call, it mentioned.
In a separate release, the Zillai (Vaiphei Students' Association) Churachandpur district also declared that it has resolved to fully endorse the ATSUM’s proposed 12-hour total shutdown in the entire district of Churachandpur, in the larger interest of the tribal populace.
Zillai urged the general public to cooperate for the success of the bandh.
ATSUM on Thursday issued a release, declaring a total shutdown in the entire hill districts from 5 in the morning to 5 in the evening on Saturday. As per the release, the shutdown has been called, with the demand for the HAC recommended ADC Bill 2021 to be tabled in the Manipur legislative assembly.