NSF-IK Muivah talk fails to break the ice, ban to continue...
Source: The Sangai Express

Kohima, February 25 2016: Sticking to its demands as laid down in the memorandum submitted to the Government of Manipur, the talk between DIG Range 1, IK Muivah and the Naga Students' Federation failed to break the deadlock with the student body announcing that the ban on movement of all vehicles belonging to Meiteis/ Manipuris will continue.

IK Muivah who has been appointed to investigate the February 14 incident at Mantripukhri and is also the emissary of the Government of Manipur came to Kohima today and met leaders of the student body to talk things over.

In a statement issued to the press, the NSF noted that the DIG came and met leaders of the student body at the latter's office in Kohima today.

The DIG expressed the seriousness of the Government of Manipur over the issue and assured that the GoM will resolve the matter at the earliest.

However, the NSF sticking to its three demands, informed that it will continue the ban on vehicles belonging to Meiteis/Manipuris intensively till the demands are met.

The demands of the NSF include termination of the service of the duty officer-incharge involved in the assault of its members in Imphal on February 14; suspension of all police personnel involved in the incident and an official public apology to the Federation over the incident.

It also sought assurance from the Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh "to provide safety and security of the Nagas and Naga vehicles in and around the valley areas" .

Meanwhile, the ban on Manipur registered vehicles continued in a few pocket and but empty trucks and commercial vehicles began plying without much disturbance as seen on the first day of the NSF agitation.

According to police sources, trucks stranded at Hengbung composite check post and Mayangkhang areas along NH-2 have already moved out and reached Imphal safely.

The documents and keys seized by suspected NSF volunteers on Wednesday at Mayangkhang and Hengbung areas were already returned the same day in the evening, informed a source.

Empty trucks and interState passenger vehicles were seen moving and there are no reports of NSF volunteers damaging vehicles or inciting any untoward incident between T Khullen and Mao gate stretch where the bandh was reported to be strong on the first day.

However, the fresh decision of the NSF to continue the ban on vehicles belonging to Meiteis/Manipuris has come as a blow to the initiative of the State Government.

Meanwhile the State unit of the Naga People's Front has expressed disappointment with the State Government in ignoring the appeal of the NSF.

In a statement, president of the NPF, Manipur unit, Awangbow Newmai alleged that it is unfortunate that the State Government ignored the appeal of the NSF to sort out the February 14 incident.

The incident arose due to the lack of discipline of Manipur police, said the statement.

The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister should have invited the leaders of NSF and talked things over, if they had the best intention of everyone.

The ban call issued by the NSF could have been avoided if only the Chief Minister had taken the matter seriously, said Awangbow Newmai and added that the student leaders of NSF should be immediately invited over for a talk to resolve the issue.

The NPF also appealed to all communities to respect each other and urged public leaders, especially MLAs, to refrain from using provocative and communal tones without knowing the facts of any situation.

The NPF also appealed the NSF to restrain from any violence and to explore all the means to resolve the issue in the general interest of the public.

Comment