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Indefinite Hunger Strike for Manja Bridge



The Manja Hidim Teron Village Bridge is a life line for 35 villages; more than 2000 children alone go to schools and colleges besides a number of people. The bridge is under construction for the last 20 years. Organisations like Manja Youth Forum, Manja Students Forum and Manja welfare society took up the cause with the support of thousands of people. On 28th September, 2010 two hours national Highway blockade was organized to press for the demand and it was participated by more than 500 persons including children, women, community leaders, village head men of several villages, teachers of different schools. For the first time the protestors were arrested by the Police and were taken to Manja Police Station. At 9.30 am Mr.H.Rajkumar, the Additional District Collector of Karbi Anglong District came to the police station and met the general public and assured that the temporary bridge will be completed within 20 days and that the permanent bridge will be completed during the financial year before March 2011, with this assurance from the government authority the police released all those who were arrested and no case was filed either. After the September 28 incident the temporarily bridge was built but without proper foundations meaning that it will collapse when the raining season start. Besides making another mockery of the genuine demand of our people, the constructions of the permanent bridge have not started yet. Taking the context seriously, a joint meeting was held on 7th May 2011 at 11 am at Hidim Teron village and people who had participated in the meeting took some of the decisions. People in the locality are demanding the administration to take up urgent steps to complete the construction of the temporary bridge with proper foundations.


The most unique decision which was taken by the people is to go for indefinite hunger strike from 17th May if the constructions of the permanent bridge do not begin by May 16, 2011. ‘We are forced to take this public action as the authorities have turned blind eye to our genuine demands for nearly two decades’, stated a press released issued by Manja Youth Forum/Manja Students Forum.





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Ranjan K Baruah's picture

Citizen Journalist and activist.

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