Twin bandhs hit normal life in Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 18 2009: Twin bandhs called against fake encounters of security forces severely hit life across Manipur both in hills and valley areas on Tuesday.

Both the bandhs will continue till tomorrow.

Over 26 vehicles- six interstate passenger buses and 20 loaded trucks- stranded along the NH-39 between Khuzuma of Nagaland and Mao gate of Manipur owing to the general strikes and chakka bandh of the transporters recommenced from today after four day relaxation.

One of the general strikes (48 hour) was imposed jointly by the United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM) in Naga inhabitant areas of Manipur demanding the Centre to respect the "hard earned ceasefire" in the wake of August 12 clash between NSCN(IM) and Assam Rifles.

It also demands withdraw of all Assam Rifles/para-military forces from Naga areas and redress all human rights violation allegedly perpetrated upon the "innocent" Naga people.

Bandh supporters burn effigies near Lilong bridge

The strike commenced from last midnight has severely affected to the normal works of life in the Naga inhabitant four hills districts, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong, reports from the districts headquarters said.

More affective were reported from Ukhrul and Senapati were people were even prevented from going to their fields and all government offices, educational institutions remained closed for the day.

No untoward incident reported during the strike hours.

The bandh will end midnight of August 19 .

All mode of transports suspended for the day across the state including inter-state passenger buses stay off the roads as another 36 hour statewide general is imposing by the Apunba Lup, spearheading the people agitation against killing of two persons including a woman and injuring to five others in July 23 fake encounter which was commenced from this morning at 5 o'clock.

The general strike was a part of the agitations that have been witnessing since August 2 following the Tehelka news magazine exposure of July 23 firing incident at Khwairamband Bazar by the police commandos as fake encounter.

Even though authorities of the state government relaxed curfew for 12 hours from 5 am till 5 pm today in imphal west and east districts, all shops, business establishments, educational institutes remained closed owing to the general strike across the state.

The same 5 am to 5 pm relaxation to the curfew tomorrow has been announced by the district magistrates of the two districts.

During the bandh hour, sit-in protest was also staged at many places of the four valley districts.

They also burnt down effigies of chief minister, O Ibobi, DGP Y Joykumar and police commandos involved in fake encounter by shouting slogans like "Resign criminal chief minister, Ibobi, punish the killer police commandos," etc.

Meanwhile, Tamenglong correspondent in his despatch informed that a 48 hour total bandh was imposed here at Tamenglong today by Zeliangrong Student's Union and Zeliangrong Youth Front Tamenglong under the aegis of United Naga Council (UNC) against the indiscriminate firing to NSCN: IM cadres by 23rd Assam Rifles on 12 August at Phunyar sub- division of Ukhrul district of Manipur.

Normal lives have been paralyzes by the 48 hours total bandh as all shops, markets, all government offices, schools and institutions were closed down on the first day of the bandh.

The total bandh started from midnight of 17 August and will be ended on 19 August midnight.

During the bandh the public are not allow to go out of their house.

The volunteers burn the tires in some places of Tamenglong.

UNC is demanding expedite the Indo- Nagas political dialogue with honourable solution, it also demand for relaxation of restricted to public passer in the firing area by not to surprise the people rights.

The United Naga Council is also demands not to repeat such indiscriminate firing to Nagas cease fire group in the near future.

"We the Nagas are peace loving people and cease fire between NSCN: IM GPRN and government of India have been effectively undergoing since 11 years" the volunteers told the IFP today.

Earlier the UNC tried to boycott the 63rd Indian Independence Day celebration and torch rally also organized on 16 August and today the 48 hours total bandh was imposed here at Tamenglong effectively.