AAMSU enforces counter-blockade in Assam
AMSU to petition NESO on SAPO bandh: demands deployment of highway protection force
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 28 2022:
In retaliation against the indefinite bandh imposed by SAPO, All Assam Manipuri Students' Union (AAMSU) has imposed a counter blockade along the national highway from Sunday midnight, thereby causing many vehicles heading to Nagaland from Assam to get stuck in between and severely affecting normal life in Nagaland.
As part of the counter blockade, a large number of blockade supporters thronged the NH-39 along Assam and Nagaland border on Monday morning and prevented trucks and vehicles carrying goods to Nagaland from passing through.
As a result, many of the vehicles got stuck along the highways.
Meanwhile, condemning the alleged 'diabolic act' of Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), AAMSU has called the Government of Nagaland unfit and incapable administrative institution as it failed to control its citizens from carrying out such anti-social activities and causing severe problems to its neighbouring states.
In a statement released to the press, AAMSU said that the economic blockade/ bandh called by Nagaland state CSOs along the National Highway leading to Manipur and the physical harassment frequently faced by Manipuri truck drivers are not new issues.
Recently, Nagaland-based organisation SAPO imposed an indefinite blockade on NH-2, which is the lifeline of Manipur state, over their illogical demand for withdrawal of Manipur's armed police personnel from the state's own territory.
From various sources, it has been learnt that the personnel and the permanent structures are positioned within the territorial boundary of Manipur.
SAPO and their like-minded other bodies should feel ashamed of interfering in the internal affairs of a neighbouring state.
It stated: "The Government of Manipur is deploying their armed police personnel within its jurisdiction.
It is not the duty of SAPO to poke its nose into the other's matter.
And moreover, blocking a National Highway, a national property, as a means of protest to fulfill their unjustified demand is unacceptable.
The government of Nagaland must take immediate action based on democratic norms and humanitarian ground to settle the ongoing chaos and prevent it from happening in the near future".
AAMSU then cautioned that if the bandh is not withdrawn at the earliest, then both the Nagaland Government and SAPO will be held responsible for any fallout due to their egoistic and selfish acts.
On the other-hand, All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has termed as unfortunate the ongoing indefinite highway bandh imposed by Nagaland based SAPO in pursuance of the demand for removal of Manipur police outpost from Dzuko valley area and declared that the students' body will shoulder responsibility in bringing the matter to the table of NESO so as to have a thorough discussion at the regional level.
According to a statement of AMSU, SAPO's indefinite bandh along NH-2 since March 23 has started affecting the economy and depleted food stock of Manipur but there has been no positive sign of resolving the matter.
Steps taken by Manipur government to resolve the matter too remains unsatisfactory and thus creates fear and anxiety among general public, the AMSU said and maintained that Manipur government must mount intense pressure on Nagaland government and even approach the Central government for resolving the issue.
While stating that SAPO's claim of Manipur encroaching into Nagaland territory is not true and the organisation is creating unnecessary trouble to people of Manipur by propagating falsehood, the AMSU statement said that Nagaland government should not remain silent on the matter and take up necessary action to end the bandh.
Expressing deep concern over shrinking territory of Manipur ever since becoming part of Indian Union in 1949, AMSU urged the present government to take the matter seriously and fight it with courage.
In view of the present situation and considering the SAPO bandh seriously, AMSU will bring the matter to the level of NESO to bring an early solution.
The students' body also appealed to the present government to establish Highway Protection Force at the earliest to end torture of drivers and collection of illegal taxes along highways.
AMSU then urged businessmen not to hike prices of essential commodities by taking advantage of the ongoing bandh along NH-2 .
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