SAPO suspends indefinite bandh
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 31 2022: After 10 days of completely cutting off the supply chain to Manipur in pursuance of its demand for withdrawal and removal of a Manipur police post set up in Dzukou Valley area, the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), on Thursday declared suspension of its indefinite bandh along the Nagaland-Manipur border.

In a joint statement, SAPO president Kevipodi Sophie and general secretary Swelul Pucho informed that its governing body and frontal organisations have unanimously decided to temporarily suspend the indefinite bandh considering the request of the Tenyimi Peoples' Organisation (TPO) and the Angami Public Organisation (APO) .

It said that TPO had earlier submitted an ultimatum to the Manipur government to withdraw police forces from Kezoltsa and had requested the SAPO to lift the blockade.

The SAYO also received fervent request of the APO, apex tribal body of the Angami Nagas to lift the indefinite bandh in view of its upcoming Golden Jubilee celebration to be held on April 8 .

SAPO announced that the relaxation and lifting of indefinite bandh is only a temporary measure and asserted that if the Manipur government fails to honour the ultimatum served by TPO on March 28, it will be constrained to initiate its own course of action, whereby the Government of Manipur will be held responsible.

On Wednesday, a Goodwill Mission delegation of the North East Indigenous People's Forum (NEIPF) and Nagaland Indigenous People's Forum (NIPF) reportedly met with SAPO functionaries at Kigwema under Kohima district.

The delegation led by NEIPF convenor N Ibungochoubi, also made an appeal to the SAPO and all the communities in the region for peaceful and harmonious coexistence.

He had mentioned that the appeal is for all the communities of north eastern region to consider the humanitarian perspective to minimize human tragedies while any form of movement is launched.

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