Bandh protest in Manipur for Monika

Imphal, August 19 : Normal life was affected in Manipur particularly in the state capital as burning of tyres and effigies of weightlifter Shailaja Pujari, Indian Olympic Association Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi and Director of SAI, R.K. Naidu in the Imphal valley and surrounding places like Lilong in Thoubal district marked the 24 hours bandh here on Tuesday afternoon.
The 24 hours bandh called by the Co-ordinating Committee Against the Conspiracy to Exclude L. Monika Devi from the Beijing Olympics by the concerned authority saw the bandh supporters and sport lovers burning tyres and effigies of weightlifter Shailaja Pujari, Suresh Kalmadi and R.K. Naidu in protest against the exclusion of Monika from the ongoing Beijing Olympic. These incidents occurred mainly at the Lamloi Khongnangkhong, Imphal West and in different places in Lilong in Thoubal district condemning the Sports Authority of India. The supporters also shouted slogans like “We condemned the policy of SAI.”
However, educational institutions have been exempted from the purview of today's bandh and students were seen headed for their educational institutions. It may be recalled here that the Democratic Students’ Alliance Manipur (DESAM) and other civil organizations had demanded that education be made a free zone from any sort of bandhs and strikes. Therefore, schools and colleges were seen in their normal routines on Tuesday.
And though government offices were opened, the turn-out percentage of the employees was reported to be very low.  However, private offices, shops, entertainment centres and the Ima market were closed. All passenger vehicles and means of transportations were paralysed too.
It may be mentioned here that the coordinating committee had demanded the government of India apologised to the people of Manipur failing which a bandh would be called. The committee had also resolved that Manipur would not participate in any zonal, national or international competitions or events. The committee also informed that the International Olympic Committee has been made aware of the discrimination of the Manipur sportsperson by the Indian government.
It may also be mentioned again that in demand of Monika being sent to the Beijing Olympic, a 24 hours general strike had been called on August 8. It may be worth noting here that another 12 hours general strike has been called on August 20 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Union Manipur as a part of the nation wide general strike against the alleged anti-worker policies being pursuit by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.