ANSAM suspends blockade
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Senapati, November 09 2023: The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has suspended the economic blockade today.

In a statement made available to Newmai News Network this evening, the ANSAM said that in view of the "dire hardship" faced by the public in the midst of ongoing conflict and following the assurance committed by the convener, Naga Legislator Forum, Awangbow Newmai, Cabinet Minister, on behalf of the Government to fulfil the two legitimate demands of the ANSAM, the emergency meeting of the student body, its executive council, its units and representatives of the Naga Legislature Forum which was held at Shelley Chara Memorial Hall, ANSAM secretariat, Senapati on November 9 "resolved to temporarily suspend the economic blockade called by the association" .

The ANSAM said it acknowledges the process of restoring mobile internet with partial opening of internet in some parts of the district headquarters and while appreciating the difficulty of Government, the Naga student body made it clear that the Government should take prompt action for opening mobile internet in all the areas in the State not affected by the violence including the interior villages and provide permanent and uninterrupted services as assured by the Minister and the pending result of Assistant Professor (145+45 ST Special Drive) be declared promptly as per the assurance.

"The ongoing agitation shall be resumed any time in the event of failure to implement the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on October 26, 2023 between the State Government and the ANSAM in the presence of the Chief Minister," the Naga student body asserted.

The ANSAM expressed its "strong condemnation against Major Deepak Kataria of 16 Assam Rifles, Hengbung for allegedly intimidating ANSAM volunteers at T Khullen while enforcing the aforementioned agitation" .

The student body said such "hostile attitude and high handedness" of the Assam Rifles towards the student community is highly questionable and uncalled for.

"The notoriety of Assam Rifles surfacing again at this juncture is unfortunate and a matter of great concern," the ANSAM said and asked the rank and file of Assam Rifles not to repeat such acts in future.

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