Efforts on to resolve NH stir : Home Minister Gaikhangam
Source: The Sangai Express / TNN

Imphal, July 11 2012: Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam on Tuesday said the government is in touch with its Nagaland counterpart to resolve the ongoing bandh imposed on National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur route) by the Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) .

Denouncing the recent hijacking of a mini-truck from Kohima by four miscreants from Manipur, SAYO has imposed the bandh on the highway in Nagaland since Friday evening, forcing a large number of passenger buses and goods trucks to remain stranded at Lalmati in Assam and Mao Gate in Manipur.

On June 21, the four culprits, who came in a car, hired the truck from Kohima to move to Manipur and on reaching Tadubi in Manipur's Senapati district, the four drugged the driver and his friend.

As the two fell unconscious, they dumped them on the roadside and drove the mini-truck towards Imphal.

Responding to a motion raised by legislator L Ibomcha Singh of the opposition NCP in the ongoing assembly, Gaikhangam said following an FIR registered by Mao Police Station, the owner of the car in which the four hijackers travelled has been seized from his Wangoi residence in Imphal West.

Subsequently, the hijacked mini-truck has also been seized by police, the home minister said.

He added that upon such development, 25 stranded trucks had crossed Mao towards Imphal , while 9 proceeded towards Nagaland from Manipur on Tuesday morning.

Gaikhangam, nevertheless, told the house that the bandh has been reimposed by the agitators.

He said the government officials concerned, including police and the district administration, are in touch with their Nagaland counterparts to bring about a solution to the stir to ensure free movement of vehicles along NH-2 .

While raising the motion, Ibomcha emphasized the need to hold talks at the chief minister and home minister level so that the agitators withdraw the bandh.

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