Nagaland: Tribal students' union block NH-2, hundreds of trucks stranded

Imphal (Manipur) [India], Oct. 30 (ANI): Hundreds of trucks are stranded along the National Highway-2 near Nagaland's Gopibung village, after the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) threatened to launch an intense agitation by banning all national projects and economic blockade on all commercial items coming from outside the state from midnight of October 27. Even the deployment of police forces and a battalion of Assam Rifles seemed futile in preventing the aggressive ATSUM supporters. Several damages to property have also been reported in the adjoining districts connecting the national highway. The union has been demanding for 31 percent reservation under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) quota to be implemented in the Manipur University. The organisation has asked all tribal students to refrain from seeking admission to MU until the reservation issue is resolved, while adding that if any tribal student violates the directive, they would be declared anti-tribal. "We are all out for adherence to the 'Rule of Law' and therefore the core demand of the tribals is to implement the latest amendment Act, of 2012, HRD's directive and intimation of the High Court's order Dated October 26 passed in W.P.C No. 855 of 2016. Secondly it is informed to all the tribal students seeking admission to various PG courses to refrain from getting admitted until the problem is solved permanently," Sheth Shatsang, president of All Naga Students Association, said. (ANI)