Roll back stand to check vehicles : NPO to CoTU
'Else Naga areas will be off limit for Kuki-Zos'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 12 2023:
The Naga People's Organisation (NPO), Senapati has appealed to the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Kangpokpi to withdraw its (CoTU) decision to check all vehicles plying on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway) .
Together with the appeal, the NPO has warned all Kuki-Zo people not to visit Naga areas to avoid unwanted/untoward incidents until CoTU's decision to check all vehicles on NH-2 is withdrawn.
The NPO said that it was appalled by the letter of information (sent by CoTU) to check all vehicles along NH-2 .
"Your decision is uncalled for and will cause immense hardship and inconvenience to the public particularly the Nagas who so far have been neutral in the ethnic clash between Meiteis and the Kuki-Zos", the NPO said in its reply to the CoTU.
Any fall-out or incident arising out of the CoTU's decision shall not be the responsibility of NPO, it warned.
Meanwhile, sources informed that CoTU volunteers have started checking all passenger vehicles plying on NH-2 at Saparmeina and Taphou Kuki.
All passengers whether they are Nagas, Muslims (Meitei Pangals) or non-Manipuris are checked at these points.
Except for a few stray incidents, Meiteis have long stopped travelling on the highway.
Incidentally, there is an Assam Rifles post not far away from one of the spots where CoTU volunteers have been checking every vehicle and harassing all passengers.
Even as the passengers are subjected to undue harassment right under their nose, the Assam Rifles troops have been only watching silently.
On being contacted, one AR officer maintained that road opening is not their responsibility.
The AR officer said that police should handle such matters.