Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, June 16:
The 66 hours bandh called by the All Manipur United Clubs Organizations and the clubs and organizations affiliated to it, which began from the midnight of June 15, was by and large peaceful at the end of the first day.
Numerous effigies of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Union home minister, LK Advani, as well as NSCN (IM) leaders, Th Muivah and Isak Swu, were burnt in different parts of the valley districts.
At some places, young men were seen burning the Indian national Tricolor as well as the Constitution, before quickly disappearing to dodge police patrols.
Mobile police teams did rounds in Imphal, over and above the numerous static posts spread out to all parts of the city.
Burning tyres as well as spilt lubricant oil were also seen on the roads in different parts of Imphal.
Streets and markets places everywhere in Imphal wore a deserted look in the morning as well as early afternoon, however, towards the evening some vegetables vendors were seen selling their wares in some of the market places.
People also trickled out of their homes towards the evening to do some quick shopping mainly of vegetables and other essential items.
All government establishments, except the police and the civil secretariat remained opened but attendance was sparse.
Meanwhile in a statement, the AMUCO said Manipur�s survival is in a very critical phase at the moment.
�It is a life and death situation and calls for one and all to come out and contribute their entire mite in the effort to save our motherland�.
The release said it was not long ago that the resource rich Kabaw valley, once a part of Manipur, was gifted away on a silver platter to neighbouring Burma, by India.
For allowing this to happen without a protest, the generation of today still holds s grudge against their forefathers.
And now, the India is again planning to fragment and destroy Manipur further by allowing the Naga ceasefire into Manipur and prepare the ground for another Nagaland to be carved out of Manipur�s territory.
If this move is allowed, this generation will never be forgiven by generations of Manipur to come, the release said.
The people must now rise to defeat the purpose of the alien rulers to destroy the age old relationships between the different ethnic communities of Manipur, the release said.
The release further appealed to the people to support the ongoing general strike to protest the aggression on the people�s right, and also for every community to remain united in these times of crisis.