Bandh called
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 08 2011:
Denouncing alleged high-handedness of the 11 Assam Rifles, All Zeliangrong Students' Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) has decided to call a 48-hour total bandh in all the Zeliangrong inhabited areas in Manipur with effect from midnight of April 17 to midnight of April 19 to pressurise the Government to translate its demands into action.
The demands of the Union include immediate withdrawal of AFSPA, 1958 from North East regions, immediate transfer of 11 Assam Rifles from Zeliangrong inhabited areas, removal of all Indian Army check posts/gates from along the Highways and district highways and taking up punitive action against Col Chonkar of 11 Assam Rifles.
In a statement, general secretary of the Union Nchaheing Kompoing said that a memorandum complaining against the alleged high-handedness of the 11 Assam Rifles in Tamenglong headquarters and by other security forces in Zeliangrong inhabited areas in Manipur have already been submitted to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of India for taking up necessary actions.
Kompoing asserted that Zeliangrong people in particular and the Nagas in general have always been victimized by the Indian security forces with impunity granted under AFSPA in the name of maintaining law and order over the last 60 years.
What is the relevance of AFSPA today when the whole Naga areas have been covered by the Indo-Naga peace process ? When there is peace in Naga region, why should AFSPA be still relevant ? Why should 11 Assam Rifles under Col Chonkar try to disrupt the valued peace process between the Government of India and the Nagas ?, he questioned, adding that this reflects insincerity on the part of the Government of India.
Thousands of Naga people have been living with indelible scars, physically, psychologically and emotionally due to excessive torture by Indian armed forces, Kompoing said.
He also appealed to the general public and all authorities concerned to extend co-operation towards making the proposed total bandh a success.
The bandh would covers both National and International projects including Railways.
However, medical services, electricity, religious functions, water supply, etc shall be exempted from the purview of the bandh.
Those who defy the bandh call should be held responsible themselves for any eventuality.