UNC scales down bandh, continues eco blockade
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 05 2011: The United Naga Council (UNC) has climbed down from imposition of total bandh on the three National Highways in Manipur to economic blockade with effect from midnight of September 5 .

In a press statement issued this afternoon, the UNC announced its decision to lift "the total bandh effective 12 pm midnight" while maintaining the status quo "on transportation of commercial goods" .

However, the UNC has made relaxation on transportation of life-saving drugs provided they are supported by valid documents obtained from the concerned authority.

The decision to relax the blockade came after 17 days of imposition of total bandh on the state supply lines passing through the Naga areas.

"The decision to continue with the bandh on transportation of goods is forced upon the Nagas in view of the persistent and continued threat to our rights, particularly the right to our land," it stated.

Further, the apex Naga body reiterated "that Nagas and only Nagas have the right to decide the fate of their lands and any decision, that adversely affects their right over their land, taken without their consent will be opposed in any manner deemed necessary" .

The UNC had stated that its movement is for expressing the Naga people's resentment over the "attempts to bifurcate Naga areas in order to create new districts" .

UNC blockade supporters blocking Imphal-Moreh road by felling trees and damaging culvert at Thamnapokpi

The UNC's agitation came amid the indefinite bandh underway since the beginning of August by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) demanding the creation of Sadar Hills district.

There have been instances of violent action along NH 39 and NH-53 with scores of vehicles and government offices set on fire by the SHDDC volunteers.

Amid this situation, the United Naga Council (UNC) had accused the state government of Manipur on August 20 for mishandling the present crisis.

"Handling of the present crisis and the biased attitude demonstrated by the government of Manipur has been viewed as a deliberate attempt to pit one community against the other," the UNC had alleged.

The UNC's total blockade since August 21 was called to protest the upgradation of Sadar Hills to revenue district by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) .

Meanwhile UNC blockade supporters razed seven vehicles including a Maruti van and a Tata Sumo on the NH 39 at Thamnapokpi today.

The incident occurred this morning at around 3:30 am.

The UNC supporters broke the wind shields of four Tata Sumo's and two Maruti van's which were coming down to Imphal from Moreh.

Another Maruti van coming from Imphal towards Moreh this morning at around 4:30 was also destroyed by the blockade supporters by pelting stones to the vehicle.

Other vehicles which were on the way to Imphal went back to Moreh as they were denied security arrangements by the AR stationed at Bongyang and also by the Manipur police of Tengnoupal P/S .