AZSU says some orgns are causing a riff
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, April 19 2011: In a media blitzkrieg of sort, a riff has been created in Zeliangrong community with some organizations within its fold decrying the 48-hour total bandh called by All Zeliangrong Students' Union�Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (AZSU�AMN) which expires midnight today.

The 48-hour bandh has been called beginning midnight of April 17 against the alleged highhandedness of 11 Assam Rifles under Col.Chonkar.

The students' union also said that the Zeliangrong people will not go by the diktat of Col Chonkar and he cannot challenge the integrity and unity of Zeliangrong people.

On Tuesday, AZSU�AMN has lambasted 11 Assam Rifles and some Zeliangrong civil organizations for going against the grain of the bandh.

"In the midst of its attempts to garner support from Zeliangrong public, 11 Assam Rifles has taken the help of a handful of unknown social organizations like Zeliangrong Union (ZU), Zeliangrong Women Union (ZWU) and Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) etc.

to sabotage the bandh," AZSU has stated, adding that "the 11 AR has failed utterly to hoodwink the Zeliangrong public and it came out a flop show before the public" .

Meanwhile, sources from Jiribam informed that the 48-hour bandh called by AZSU�AMN has been total in Jiribam with Jiribam�Imphal section of National Highway 53 remaining closed for vehicular traffic during the bandh that expires midnight today.

Shops and business establishment in Jiribam downed their shutters and the town wore a deserted look.

It has also been reported that more than 100 trucks have been stranded in Jiribam area because of the 48-hour bandh.

However, Assam Rifles has claimed today, which was carried by a local daily that, government offices, vehicles, shops and business establishments were running as usual.

Terming it as a "publicity stunt", AZSU�AMN said that "the NH-53 from Imphal to Jiribam, IT Road , KT Road had deserted look" .

While the three Zeliangrong organizations, ZU, ZWU and ZYF, today said that they are unaware of the 48-hr bandh, AZSU�AMN, in what appeared to be a show of strength, said that the bandh has been a total success with supports extended by Zeliangrong Baudi Manipur (ZBM) and its zonal affiliates from Tamenglong, Tamei, Tousem, Nungba, South zone, Imphal, Jiribam etc.

Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM) and its area affiliates from Tamenglong, Longmai, Nungba, Tamei, Tousem, Jiribam, Project area, Longmai Area Village Authority Council, Longmai Bazar Board, Khoupum Village Authority Council, Longmai Area Nisha Bandh, Tamei Area Youth Clubs, Nungba Village Authority and others.

"The massive support of the Zeliangrong public and sympathizers to the 48-hour total bandh is a clear indication of public protest against the Armed Forces Special (Power) Act, 1958, and the highhandedness of the security forces under the ambit of this draconian act," AZSU�AMN said.

While also giving credit for the success of the bandh to the general public in all Zeliangrong areas of Manipur, it said that "the tall claims of 11 Assam Rifles and Col.Chonkar have been exposed" .

"In order to cover up his highhandedness and fear of negative remarks in his career, Col.Chonkar ahd 11 Assam Rifles have blamed NSCN/GPRN for instigating the 48-hour bandh.

There is not an iota of truth in his allegation," said AZSU�AMN.

"He has been frantically blaming everybody out of frustration" .

The students' union then went on to enlighten for the benefit of Col.Chonkar saying that Zeliangrong community has been in the forefront during India's freedom movement to evict the British from the soil of India for which leaders from the community like Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu have been immortalized through the title given by Jawaharlal Nehru such as "Rani" and the highest civilian award instituted by the state like Padma Vibhusan.

"The Zeliangrong people will not go by the diktat of a mere Colonel of Indian Army in the person of Col.Chankar.

He cannot challenge the integrity and unity of the Zeliangrong people," said AZSU�AMN.

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