Public stages dharna, TNL invokes 'curfew' in Ukhrul town
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, July 24 2014: Defying the prohibitory order clamped in Ukhrul town, the Tangkhul social organisations staged a peaceful sit-in protest and imposed "public curfew" on Thursday to exert pressure on the government to meet their persisting demands on the prevailing situation post-July 12 incident.

The townsmen clad in black-colour attires - as a mark of protest against the developing "volatile situation" in Ukhrul - walked out from various localities of the town and converged at Dungrei Junction, Wino Bazar, Awontang, Luiyainaotang to hold a dharna from 10 AM-12 noon Thursday.

The protestors held placards and banners during the peaceful dharna to register their demands to the state government, while decrying "militarization," prohibitory order and demanding release of eight arrested cadres from NSCN (IM) regional office.

On the order of the district administration, police issued public warning through PA system against any form of grouping, namely dharna and rally in the town.

However, the protestors defied the warning and staged the sit-in protest in four different locations.

Police forces armed with riot gears patrolled the town but the protest was held without any untoward incident reported from any areas.

Interestingly, the town witnessed a one-hour "public curfew" imposed by Tangkhul frontal bodies as shops downed their shutters and vehicles stayed off the road from 12.30-1.30 PM.

The Tangkhul bodies stated the "public curfew" and "sit-in protest" would be indefinite until their demands are fulfilled by the government.

Tangkhul fontal organisations have been launching a series of agitation to exert pressure on the government to meet their demands on the situations in Ukhrul that has developed since the killing of ADC member Ngalangzar Malue on July 12 .

Meanwhile, Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has urged the public in the town to stay indoor at night after 7 PM in view of the volatile situation in the district headquarters.

A 48-hour "vehicular bandh" has been called by the United Naga Council (UNC) from Thursday midnight in Naga areas of Manipur.

A source said the State government has today sent in additional forces from Imphal to the district headquarters.

However, Ukhrul Deputy Commissioner Modak Hrisheekesh Arvind has denied the report.

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