NH-39 blocked to demand release of 5 IM cadres
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, May 20 2011:
Wayfarers and road users along National Highway 39 in Senapati district had a harrowing time when a convoy of 5 Assam Rifles, transporting five arrested cadres of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isaac Muivah (NSCN-IM) was gheraoed by enraged womenfolk.
According to the police, today at around 2 pm five cadres of NSCN-IM were arrested by personnel of 5 Assam Rifles from the MOnday bazar at Senapati .
Even as the arrested NSCN-IM cadres were being transferred from Senapati bazar to Imphal, a group of womenfolk gathered at Ningthoupham village along National Highway 39 in Senapati district and gheraoed the convoy demanding the release of the NSCN-IM cadres.
Ningthoujam is situated about 5 kms from Senapati district headquarters towards Imphal.
The enraged womenfolk demanded the release of the arrested cadres and stopped the 5 Assam Rifles personnel from proceeding ahead.
As the agitating womenfolk held sway, the highway almost came to a standstill with the womenfolk regulating the passage of vehicles and highway users, after checking them.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the State police force has sent reinforcement to Ningthoupham village to break the embargo.
The identities of the arrested NSCN-IM cadres are yet to be ascertained and till the filing of this report the standoff between the womenfolk demanding the release of the NSCN-IM cadres and the security forces continued.
Details as to whether the arrested IM cadres have been freed or not are still unclear.
The 5 Assam Rifles comes under the 57 Mountain Division, Leimakhong, which is under the Union Defence Ministry.