Day I : UNC sponsored bandh starts with arson on highway
Trucks torched in Senapati, general strike ends peacefully, Naga bodies to discuss Napet Palli case
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2012: Two trucks have been torched by suspected supporters of the 72 hour bandh called by United Naga council in Naga inhabited areas even as the 18 hour statewide general strike against the December 18 chandel molestation and assault case ended on a peaceful note today.

Both the bandh and the general strike came into effect from December 26 midnight.

The UNC gave the bandh call to protest alleged 'attacks and harassments of tribal people' during the indefinite bandh call of various civil society organisations against molestation and assault of a Manipuri film actress and opening fire at her two male colleagues by a top cadre of NSCN (IM) at a musical concert at Chandel.

Briefing newspersons this evening, IGP (Law& Order) L Kailun stated that the FCI trucks were burnt down at Vakha, which is about 2.5 kilometres short of Senapati district headquarters, at around 1 am of December 27 by bandh supporters of UNC.

Further informing that trucks had crossed Mao Gate at 10 pm of December 26, he detailed that both were engaged in transportation of FCI rice under an agent, who is the son of one Woba Joran, the TNC candidate in Mao AC in the last Assembly election.

Truck burnt at Spt and the flyover during the general strike; Paul Leo while addressing the media

It is not known why the two trucks did not come with the convoy of oil tankers and other trucks escorted from Dimapur on December 26, said the IGP and noted 'why they (truckers) did not drive straight away from Mao in which case they might have been able to reach Kangpokpi by midnight of December 26 in which case the incident might not have taken place' .

Senapati police, which also saved the consignment of the partially damaged truck have detained the drivers and handymen of the trucks, Kailun added.

The two trucks respectively belong to Md Rajajuddin (JH02L/9395) and Md Rijuwan (WB59A/4412), both from Lilong Makha Leikai.

one of them (JH02L/9395), driven by Syed Ali has been totally burnt while the other (WB59A/4413), driven by Wajid Ali, has been partially damaged.

Contrary to the IGP's claims, CRPF personnel of 109 Bn found guarding the torched truck, when a team of mediapersons reached the spot this afternoon, contended that soon after getting information about the burning of the trucks they rushed to the spot and reached there at around 11.30 pm of December 26 .

The trucks which the CRPF personnel managed to save was handed over to Senapati police, they said.

Even though there is no report of other bandh-related incidents, there were no signs of commercial vehicles plying on the Imphal-Mao section of NH-39 while shops in Senapati, Tadubi and Mao bazars remained shut.

According to former UNC president Paul Leo it is unlikely that the Naga body will shorten the bandh call.

speaking to the media team at Senapati district HQs office of ANSAM, Paul also strongly condemned the December 18 Chandel incident and opined that the sordid act has no place in any society.

A street in Chandel district headquarters looks deserted on account of the 72 hours bandh called by UNC

Accusing the Government of Manipur for alleged failure to take appropriate measures, he also blamed the State authorities for severe inconveniences caused by indefinite bandh supporters to a number of hill people who were heading to their homes for Christmas celebration.

claiming that people of a particular community were targeted by the agitators, Paul further asserted that inconveniences faced by the hill people could have been averted had the Government taken up suitable measures.

He also opined that inspite of being an NSCN (IM) cadre, appropriate action could have been initiated by the Government of Manipur to round up and punish Livingstone Anal for his crimes committed against the film actress.

Further course of action in connection with the molestation of a young girl at Napet Palli area on December 24 evening would be chalked out at a joint meeting of UNC, Naga Women's Union, ANSAM, Naga Hohos and civil society organisations, confided the former UNC chief.

Meanwhile, in the valley pockets the general strike, called by Manipur Film Forum and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council with the backing of various civil society organisations, severely affected normal life but passed off without any incident as security forces maintained a strict vigil, particularly in the twin capital districts.

The dawn to dusk curfew imposed by the Government in Imphal East and West districts as a pre-emptive measure also led to the streets wearing a deserted look.

Normal chores in Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East district and Moreh sub-division under Chandel district were also affected consequent to the general strike.

Defying curfew, sit-in-demonstration was staged at Kyamgei near Manipur university to denounce the Chandel incident.

The 18 hours general strike marks resumption of the agitation to protest the Chandel incident as well as demand arrest and punishment of SS Lt Col Livingstone Anal of the NSCN (IM), who is accused to committing excesses against the artistes.