Naga area bandh underway in State
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, June 17 2013: Except for Imphal-Churachandpur inter district route, all the vehicular movements plying between the state capital Imphal and the district headquarters have halted on the first day of the 48-hours United Naga Council (UNC) Naga area bandh today.

Educational institutions, shops and other business related activities halted today in the district headquarters of Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati.

Inter-state public transports too did not operate today following the UNC bandh which began last midnight.

However, there was no untoward incident reported anywhere due to the bandh on the first day today.

The United Naga Council (UNC) has imposed 48 hours bandh in 'Naga areas' in Manipur in what they term as a protest against the communal policies of the government of Manipur and the communal forces in the valley.

While spelling out specific instances of what the UNC alleges as communal agenda on June 9, the Naga body had said that in the presidential council meeting held on June 3, the matter of relentless 'communal onslaught' of the Government of Manipur and 'communal forces' of Imphal valley upon the Nagas and tribals was tabled for discussion.

"After thorough deliberation it was decided to observe a 48 hours total bandh in Naga areas w.e.f the midnight of 16th June, 2013 and till midnight of 18th June, 2013 to protest against the unabated communal actions and policies of the government of Manipur and the communal forces in Imphal valley and to urge the Government of India to intervene immediately with an alternative arrangement," the UNC had stated.

According to the UNC, the above decision was arrived at after considering the manner of response of the government and 'communal forces' on many issues which emerged even after the direct attack on Christians and tribals in Imphal valley in the wake of the reported assault on actress Momoko, the Napetpali assault and molestation and the murder of two Kongkan Tangkhul villagers � all during the Christmas season of December, 2013.The communal actions continues unabated in different forms, amongst which the following incidents were discussed in detail � "36 houses of Silent Tangkhul village were burnt down by neighbouring Saijang Meitei and their supporters on 3rd May, 2013 and properties worth crores of rupees was reduced to cinders and hundreds of villagers rendered homeless.

The Cabinet of the Government of Manipur then steps in and imposes 144 CrPC in the area where the burnt houses once stood by declaring the same as disputed area, thereby endorsing the terror crime of burning of houses and clearly favouring Saijang Meitei.

Instead of booking the vandals and arsonists, the GoM acts against the law of the land and adopts a communal position," the UNC alleged.

The government of Manipur offers a communal response and refuses to carry out its bounden duty of securing the safe return of Ms.Alice Kamei, a 14 year old tribal school girl who has been in the custody of the Revolutionary Peoples Front/Peoples Liberation Army(RPF/PLA) since March 10, 2013 stating that the minor Ms Alice has joined the RPF on her own volition.

Communal GoM absolves a militant group of its crime of abduction/ensnaring a minor away from the care of her parents and guardians, the Naga body added.

"The eviction of 28 houses in Naga River Colony by the government of Manipur on May 20, 2013 left more than 100 school going children homeless and 3 churches mowed down.

The eviction of the bona fide residents of Naga River Colony was carried on the pretext of construction of a 5 star hotel and systematically carried out by first propagating that the "patta" of the area were faulty and then issuing back dated eviction orders which did not allow the resident to salvage whatever is possible from their houses.

Even standing court ruling of maintaining status quo was not honoured.

At daybreak of 20th May, 2013, Naga River colony was wiped out of the face of the earth epitomising the determined design of the Communal GoM to disown tribals and Christian of their legitimate rights," the UNC had further alleged.

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