Bar on entry of IM leaders to Zunheboto Bandh affects life in Naga areas
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur/Imphal, January 17, 2012: Normal activities in Nagaland's commercial hub Dimapur and the State capital Kohima and also in the Naga areas in Manipur were affected due to the 12 hour bandh called by the NSCN-IM in protest against the move of New Delhi that prevented Naga outfit's Chairman Isak Chisi Swu and its general secretary Th Muivah from visiting Zunheboto on Saturday last.

Talking to Newmai News Network this evening, convenor of the NSCN-IM Steering Committee VS Atem said the bandh ended at 6 pm on Tuesday which began this morning in 'Nagalim', meaning in all the 'Naga areas'.

All the business establishments in Dimapur were seen shut during the bandh hours today.

In the Nagaland State capital Kohima the severity of the 12-hour NSCN-IM bandh was also strong.

No shops were seen opened today in Kohima.

However, vehicles both private and public were seen plying as usual in Dimapur and Kohima.

In Senapati district headquarters, the shops were seen closed since this morning.

Reports received from the district headqurters said that except for few vegetable vendors more or less all the shops were shut due to the bandh.

Similar reports were also received from the district headqurters of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel.

It is worth noting that on January 14, Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu were on their way to Zunheboto from their camp Hebron in a large entourage consisting of about 70 vehicles but were stopped by the waiting Assam Rifles at Bade village led by an Assam Rifles Brigadier at around 9.30 am.

Bade village is located at about 20 kilometres from NSCN-IM's Hebron camp.

The Assam Rifles asked Muivah and Swu not to go ahead with their visit to Zunheboto without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

At around 3 pm the Ministry of Home Affairs had reportedly allowed Muivah and Isak Swu to visit Zunheboto but with certain conditions.

One condition of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the NSCN-IM leaders's tour to Zunheboto is that Muivah and Swu will travel without weapons.

The second condition of the MHA to the NSCN-IM leaders is that personal security guards shall not carry weapons even in concealed manner.

The third condition has been that the number of vehicles not to exceed twenty.

and the NSCN-IM leaders will not hold any public meeting or press conference.

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