12- hr bandh hits normal life in Chandel district
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 19 2011:
Normal life was affected in Chandel district today owing to a 12-hour bandh jointly called by the Anal Naga Tangpi (ANTA), Anal Naga Women Association (ANWA) and Anal Students' Union (ASU).
Buses remained off the roads fearing attacks by bandh enforcers.
The bandh, which commenced from 5 am in the morning, mostly affected Chakpikarong sub-division and Chandel district HQ.
Shops, schools and other institutions remained closed.
The bandh concluded peacefully at 5 pm and no untoward incidents were reported from any part of the district during the bandh hours.
The organisations had imposed the bandh when the Chandel DC failed to fulfill their demands even as the May 18 deadline set by them had expired yesterday.
The bodies are demanding return of the land 'allotted' to Assam Rifles for construction of a camp alleging that a portion of the public road had been included in the allotment.
President of the ANTA, WNG Kohring Victor said, the shortest route to reach Chandel district HQ from Chakpikarong village is the 19 km long road constructed by the state PWD during 1956-75 .
The road has been in a deplorable condition for a long time due to negligence on the part of the concerned authorities.
Modi village authority had included a portion of the road in 'selling' land to 42 Assam Rifles for construction of their camp, he said alleging that no consent was taken from the Anal people at the time of 'selling' the land.
However, on the request of the villagers, the AR authority spared a 20 feet wide stretch of land between Malanglok and Hlungtetol adjacent to a public road.
But after they fenced their campus, not more than 15 feet could be got for constructing the road, he added.
They had requested the district administration to intervene into the matter and had sought reservation of 40 to 50 feet of land in breadth en route from Chakpi river bank between Malanglok stream and Hlungtetol to enable construction of a district/sub-division highway along Chakpi river bank via Beru Anthi, Bolnidam, Old Nungfura, Charongching, Y/Khunkha and Anal Khullen village.
But the district administration has not given any response, he said.