NSF calls off stir, 5 cops placed under suspension
Source: The Sangai Express / NNN
Dimapur/Imphal, February 26 2016 :
The Naga Students'
Federation (NSF) has called off
its ban on "Meitei/Manipuri
owned vehicles" from Naga
inhabited areas with immediate
effect.
Addressing the press in
Dimapur this evening, NSF
leaders said they have de-
cided to call off the agitation
following the fulfilment of
their demands by the Manipur
Government.
Meanwhile, five personnel
of Manipur Police were today
placed under suspension by
the Home Department in con-
nection with the February 14
Mantripukhri incident
wherein some NSF members
were reportedly assaulted.
The five personnel are SI
Md Imtiyaz Rahaman of
Tamenglong police (presently
attached with Cdo/IE),
Havildar S Gunachandra of
5th Bn MR (presently at-
tached with Cdo/IE),
Rifleman W Jiten Singh of
1st MR (presently attached
with Cdo/IE), Rifleman O
Bishwanath Singh of 1st IRB
(presently attached with Cdo/
IE) and Constable N
Surchandrajit Singh of Imphal
East police (presently at-
tached with Cdo/IE).
An order to this effect has
been issued by ADGP, C
Doungel on behalf of the
DGP of Manipur Police.
As news of the suspen-
sion of the five cops spread,
police commandos returned
from their duties to Imphal
East district police headquar-
ters and parked their vehicles
inside the complex.
The main entrance gate of
district police headquarters
was found half-closed when
reporters rushed there to col-
lect news.
One commando personnel
on the condition of anonym-
ity told reporters that the
suspension order had given
extreme dissatisfaction to
them.
Expressing concern over
conceding under NSF's pres-
sure, he said that the
Government's decision would
encourage the activities of
NSF.
Later, Imphal East SP
Angam Kamei Romanus ar-
rived at the district police
headquarters and held a meet-
ing with commando
personnel.
After the meeting, the com-
mando personnel resumed
their normal duties from
around 3 pm.
In a statement, NSF said
that the decision to call off
the stir was taken today at
11.45 am as the Government
of Manipur has responded to
the charter of demands posi-
tively.
'The sincerity of the Gov-
ernment of Manipur is
appreciated', said NSF and
added that it hopes and be-
lieves the GoM will uphold
their commitment in letter and
spirit.
In a message sent to the
DGP, the NSF acknowledged
the efforts of the State Gov-
ernment as well as the
investigating officer, IK
Muivah, DIG range 1 for
their efforts to resolve the
issue.
NSF also condemned the
statements made by
Gaikhangam, RK Imo and
Biren Singh in the Manipur
Assembly "It was never the Naga
Students' Federation which
first went communal," said
NSF and added that they (the
named persons) tried to shield
the people who started being
communal.
The student body also
thanked all the civil societies
for extending their solidarity,
all the Federating Units and
subordinate bodies of the
Naga Students' Federation, all
the volunteers for their tire-
less efforts in making the
indefinite bandh a success and
the media fraternity for their
unceasing support to the peo-
ple's struggle.
NSF also expressed regret
for the inconveniences cre-
ated to the general public
during the ban on vehicles of
a community.
Naga Students' Federation
(NSF) imposed an indefinite
ban on movement of all
"Meitei/Manipuri owned ve-
hicles" in all Naga inhabited
areas since February 24 after
the Manipur Government
failed to give in to their de-
mands of terminating the
service of the duty officer-in-
charge and suspension of all
cops involved in the incident.
The Manipur Government
sent DIG Range-1 IK
Muivah as its emissary to
Nagaland where he met NSF
leaders to resolve the crisis at
the student body's office in
Kohima yesterday.
Earlier, NSF had submit-
ted a memorandum to the
Governor of Manipur giving
February 23 as the deadline
to fulfil their demands.
It en-
forced the stir following
failure of the Manipur Gov-
ernment to meet the demands.
The NSF leaders were
heading towards Ukhrul dis-
trict on February 14 to attend
Lui-Ngai-Ni festival when the
incident happened.
Speaking to
The Sangai
Express,
a highly reliable
source said that after the meet-
ing held with Government
emissary DIG Range 1, IK
Muivah at Kohima yesterday,
the NSF agreed to drop the
demand to dismiss the officer
in the Mantripukhri incident.
The student body however
demanded that the officer and
checking personnel who
abused them verbally and
manhandled them threatening
them that they will be made to
"disappear" as no one knows
their whereabouts should be
suspended.
The DGP has also con-
veyed regret for the
unfortunate Mantripukhri in-
cident to NSF, added the
source.
After much deliberations
on how not to blow the issue
out of proportion involving
larger entities, the NSF also
decided to reconsider its deci-
sion of indefinite bandh and
called it off.
The Naga Hoho has hailed
the decision of the NSF and
added that it would like to
thank and appreciate the Naga
Students' Federation for ena-
bling and waking up the
Manipur Government and
making the Manipur Govern-
ment call and accept a crime
as a crime, committed by its
security forces upon the NSF
officials who were enroute to
Ukhrul to attend the Lui Ngai
Ni festival on February 14,
2016.
In a statement, Naga Hoho
said that the erring jawans led
by SI Md Imtiyaz Rahaman
were well aware of the digni-
taries travelling in the entire
State of Manipur enroute to
Ukhrul on February 14 morn-
ing.
The Naga Hoho also ac-
knowledged the sincere
efforts of the Manipur Gov-
ernment and particularly IK
Muivah IPS, DIG Range 1,
who was the Investigating
Officer of the case and Eno
Subenthung the president of
the NSF for resolving the
issue.
The Hoho strongly be-
lieves that language which is
one's own pride should not
be imposed upon innocent
travellers, be it in Nagaland
or in Manipur, said the state-
ment and added that Naga
Hoho looks forward to the
time when security forces
manning the check gates will
honour and respect all.