Imphal, August 06: The blockade imposed by some Naga organizations on the Imphal � Dimapur road (NH-39) and the Imphal � Jiribam road (NH-53) in protest against the Central government�s decision to review the extension of the ceasefire with the NSCN(IM) without territorial limits has been lifted with immediate effect, reliable sources in Kohima said.

According to the sources, the decision to lift the blockade was taken at a meeting of Naga NGOs convened by the Naga Hoho today in Kohima.

The United Naga Council, Manipur was among the NGOs represented at today�s meeting which had the highway blockade issue on top on its agenda, according to a source in Kohima.

The NGOs also agreed to coordinate all their future action with the Naga Hoho so that no confusion in plan of action on important matters emerges.

It was however decided to continue other forms of peaceful protests against the government of India�s turnaround on the ceasefire issue.

In this connection, it is learnt that the Tangkhul Coordinating Committee on Ceasefire, TCCCF, has launched a civil disobedience movement in Ukhrul district from the morning onwards.

The movement is to continue till the midnight of August 9 next.

A report from Senapati district adds that as part of the agitation, employees of government offices in the four districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel districts will take mass casual leave till August 8 next.

It may be recalled that the Naga Hoho has been appealing against any form of blockades and dharna along the national highways.

Meanwhile with the lifting of the economic blockades imposed on the national highways, a large number of goods carriers which had been stranded outside the state reached Imphal safely this afternoon.

A total of 94 trucks, including 72 goods carrier trucks and 22 trucks carrying LPG cylinders reached Imphal without incident today under MR escort.

Several Naga groups had imposed bandhs and blockades along the two national highways for the past several days in protest against the government of India�s decision to go back on the Bangkok agreement extending the ceasefire with the NSCN (IM) without territorial limits.

As a result, a large number of goods carrying vehicles were stranded at various places in Nagaland, particularly Dimapur and Zakhama, on the Manipur � Nagaland border.

With the lifting of the blockade following a meeting of Naga NGOs at Kohima, most vehicles which were stranded at these places have proceeded to Imphal under security escort.

Meanwhile, a public sit-in-protest was held at Chandel district headquarters today under the aegis of the Chandel Naga People�s Organization, CNPO from 10 am to 6 pm in protest against the government�s decision to review the Bangkok agreement.

Similar demonstrations are planned to be continued till August 8 in the whole of the district.

Further sit-in-protest demonstrations will be held at Chakpikarong and Machi villages tomorrow.

As part of the protests, Naga employees of government offices at Chandel district headquarters went on mass casual leave today.

On the other hand, womenfolk at Kakching and Pallel are intercepting Chandel bound buses and offloading essential commodities meant to be taking to the district HQs.

Comment