Imphal, June 22, 2010: Passenger transport services on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 severely affected Tuesday owing to the 24-hour bandh imposed on the passenger transport services by the Senapati District Motor Vehicles Owners Association in protest against the attacks on two Imphal to Mao service vehicles on Monday in Imphal.

Meanwhile, the United Naga Forum, Imphal and All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) condemned the act of attacks on the vehicles in separate statements dispatched today.

The normal traffic on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 was severely affected due to the 24-hour bandh of the passenger transport services imposed in Senapati district by the Senapati District Motor Vehicles Owners Association in protest against attack on two Mao to Imphal service vehicles by some masked men yesterday morning.

No pasenger vehicles ply on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 today due to 24-hour hour snap Senapati district bandh which was commenced from last midnight and ended midnight of today.

On the other hand, the United Naga Forum, Imphal today expressed strong condemnation to the attacks on two Imphal-Mao bound passenger buses with stones that leave two persons with injuries.

A statement of the newly floated body signed by its general secretary, N Pantijai dispatched to the media houses in Imphal termed the incident as a "barbaric act" while expressing strong condemnation.The body also urged the government to compensate the damaged caused to the two vehicles and relief assistances to the two injure persons and provision of security escorts to all the inter-district bus plying from Imphal to Mao.

The forum also appealed to all concerns not to repeat such incidents in future and urged to maintain peace and tranquility among various communities of Manipur.

The All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) also while observing the attacks on the buses as "very unhealthy trend in the present prevailing situation appealed all concerns to stop such acts that may create communal tensions among the different communities.

A statement of AMCO signed by its president Rev S Prim Vaiphei also appealed to settle all matter if any conflict or difference arose through talks and bring about amicable solutions.

The resolution to condemn the incident was taken in a meeting of leaders of civil societies held yesterday to discuss the prevailing situation in Manipur at MBC under the aegis of AMCO.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Love Manipur, AMUCO, Heiricoun, UCM, Mao Union, Imphal, Forum for Social Harmony, Peace Core Team, Manipur, Naga Forum, Abundant Life Ministry, OMCRS, advisory body of Zeliangrong People, etc.

They expressed appreciation in lifting the ban on Manipur vehicles in Nagaland by the NSF and the lifting of blockade on the NH-39 and 53 by ANSAM and UNC considering the plight of the people.

The meeting also viewed with seriousness the illegal tax collection on the Manipur vehicles entering Nagaland by a students' organisation as alleged in the local dailies and unanimously agreed to appeal the students' body concerned to stop the illegal collection.

The meeting also appealed the Manipur government to invite the UNC and ANSAM for a talk at the earliest on the impasse of the ADC elections and bring about an amicable solution by revoking the "wanted tag" on the UNC and ANSAM leaders, the statement of AMCO stated.

Comment