Unauthorised checking infuriates Naga Women's Union
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, September 27 2024: Naga Women's Union (NWU) has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs, central military institutions, and the state's home department to remove all unauthorised checkpoints and barriers set up in various districts of Manipur since May 3, 2023 aftermath of the conflict between the Meetei and Kuki communities.

In a press release issued Friday, NWU stated that those occupants on roads and highways should be removed as soon as possible as unauthorised checkpoints and gates are causing significant inconvenience to civil commuters, motorists, and vehicular movements, causing untold inconveniences and hardships to the people.

The construction of bunkers and placement of objects on highways and roadsides, such as mud-filled sacks, barricades, and drums, violate the highway and public's rights.

The union further pointed out that passengers are often subjected to harassment, torture, extortion, and threats by armed organisations.

According to NWU, of all the inconveniences, demand for ID proof of travellers, vehicle number, inquiring driver's identity, and speaking in unfamiliar language during their unnecessary queries are intolerable to all non-warring groups and tantamount to mental harassment.

The brazen behaviours which provoke people should be stopped, taking into account the sentiments of weary travellers and the public.

Instances of aggressive verbal and ethnically abusive terms, reportedly used by certain individuals are detrimental to the public's mental health.

Sometimes it takes a considerable time to pass through the National Highway checkpoints.

Frequently, when there is a traffic jam caused by occupants on certain pretexts, the school vans are unable to reach the school on time.

This unsettling situation can significantly disturb the students' state of mind even before they arrive at school, creating an unfavourable environment, it continued.

The union then pointed out that disturbing travellers for more than a year and nearly five months constitutes an offense under section 8(A)(1) of the National Highway Act, 2002, involving unauthorised occupation, damage, and destruction of highways.

Such actions compromise civil rights related to safe and accessible travel for the public, which cannot be overlooked.

NWU expressed concern over the presence of central military, state forces, and members of armed organisations in close proximity to one another, terming it as "a strange behaviourism" .

It advised that security guardians from the nation's military institutions and state security custodians act professionally and impartially, adhering to the laws inherent in their duties.

Members of armed organisations should not be seen loitering on roads and public areas, since the gun and ammunition culture is not appropriate for civilised society.

The union maintained that tolerance is diminishing, highlighting the distress caused to innocent individuals, particularly women and students, by the frequent use of abusive language before passing unauthorised gates.

The Naga community has shown remarkable patience in enduring provocations without retaliation.

As the situation gradually stabilises, it is crucial for both the Meetei and Kuki communities to recognise the sentiments of their neighbours and engage in the peace process, it added.

NWU then called for the immediate removal of all barriers on highways and roadways.

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