Bandh tightened, set to cover whole Chandel district
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 02 2015:
Imphal-Moreh highway bandh called against alleged excesses committed by Assam Rifles troops has been tightened all the more and it has been decided to bring the whole Chandel district under the bandh's purview.
A joint meeting of several civil society organisations was held today in connection with the ongoing agitation at Tengnoupal.
At the end of the meeting, a joint action committee was constituted before adopting a decision to further intensify the bandh.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, JAC Against Atrocities of Central Security Forces, Chandel district co-convenor SK Angshel said that it has been decided to bring the whole Chandel district under the indefinite bandh's purview.
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A decision to intensify the agitation was unanimously adopted as human rights violation by troops of 26 AR posted at Tengnoupal has crossed all limits.
Apart from detention of innocent civilians for hours in the name of search operations, even expecting mothers who were on their way to hospitals/medical centres for urgent medical attention were detained by AR troops.
Such excesses of AR troops are not restricted to Khudengthabi, Tengnoupal and Sita Lamkhai of Imphal-Moreh highway.
Similar acts of rampant human rights violations are also committed at different points of the roads leading to Sehlon, Joupi and Sajik Tampak.
Altogether seven battalions of AR/Army are deployed in Chandel district alone, Angshel said.
Today's meeting was participated by representatives of Kuki Chiefs' Association, Kuki Students' Organisation, Kuki Women Human Rights Organisation, Thadou Students' Association, Chandel district, Kuki-Naga Chiefs' Association Chandel district, Hill Tribal Council Moreh and Molnoi Area Welfare Council.
JAC co-convenor SK Angshel is also the general secretary of Kuki-Naga Chiefs' Association.
He said that Pallel and Moreh would be brought under the purview of the ongoing bandh.
JAC convenor and KSO Chandel president Doumang Haokip demanded that the 24 AR post of Tengnoupal be shifted elsewhere and its CO be transferred to another unit.
The bandh till today was enforced by KSO, KWHRO and Tengnoupal Village Authority.
But from tomorrow, all the protest demonstrations including the bandh would be orchestrated by the JAC.
No definite response could be elicited during yesterday's meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi, said Doumang while claiming that many other civil society organisations based in Chandel district have pledged unstinted support to the people's ongoing agitation.
Appealing to all transporters to suspend their normal activities in the larger interest of the public, Doumang said that religious services, education, power, water supply, medical and other essential services would be exempted from the purview of the public agitation.