Aizawl: The residents of Saitual on Friday staged a "demonstration" or "black day" under the aegis of the Saitual District Implementing Demand Committee (SDIDC), several civil society groups and various political parties, to expressed their plight against the government's apathy towards their demand to declare Saitual a full fledged district.

Saitual is a census town in Aizawl district, about 90km from here.

Blaming the Congress-led state government, the protesters asked the state Congress not to field any candidate in Tawi constituency under which falls Saitual town if the government failed to implement Saitual district and allocate a separate deputy commissioner before the state Assembly election, which is due at the end of this year.

All government offices and educational institutions in the town remained closed during the daylong strike.

Sources from Saitual said hundreds of people took part in the demonstration and all vehicles also displayed black flags to observe the day. The protesters carried several placards demanding the implementation of Saitual district, the sources added.

Apart from SDIDC president Rohmingliana, several leaders of NGOs, president addressed the demonstration during which they strongly blamed the Congress-led state government for failing to implement Saitual district.

The protesters passed several resolutions, blaming the Congress government for failing to honour its promise made 10 years ago.

The protesters expressed disappointment over the government's apathy to take measure for implementation of Saitual district and accused Mizoram politicians of being unpatriotic.

The protesters also demanded that home minister R. Lalzirliana, who was elected from Tawi constituency in the 2013 Assembly elections, should resign for failing to honour and execute his promise to implement Saitual district.

Leaders of the committee said they will continue to mount pressure on the government till their demand is met.

The creation of Saitual district was announced by the Mizo National Front (MNF) government on September 12, 2008.