Bandh throws normal life out of gear

IMPHAL, May 26: Normal life in Manipur remained seriously affected today following the 24-hour bandh as well as the 12-hour general strike called respectively by Pangal Students’ Organisation (PSO) and Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU) in protest against the killing of Proctor of Manipur University Prof Md Islamuddin.Stray incidents of violence in which at least one person was injured while scores of vehicles damaged have also been received from different parts of the State.Since early morning, a large number of people came out to enforce the bandh along National Highway 39 in between Mantripukhri and Lei-Ingkhol along with erecting road barricades and scattering of broken glass pieces to prevent movement of vehicles.Armed with sticks and slings, they also prevented any person from venturing out while the windscreens of vehicles plying in defiance of the bandh were smashed.At Minuthong Hatta, bandh supporters burnt tyres and erecting road blockade with bamboos and woods to enforce the bandh. They were also armed with sticks and slings to attack any person or vehicle plying in defiance of the bandh.At Top Khongnangkhong where barricade was erected near the bridge, suspected bandh supporters damaged an autorickshaw. They also shouted slogans decrying killing of innocent people.At Lilong, where the bandh was total, suspected bandh supports set on fir a tourist bus (MN01-1242) in the afternoon.