Imphal, July 23: The Naga Peoples Organization (NPO), Senapati has banned two Imphal based daily papers for circulations and consumption by the Naga public on the �apprehension that undesirable provocation can result due to the manner and extent of unrestricted one sided reportage�.

In a statement the NPO said that The Sangai Express and the Naharolgee Thoudang dailies have been banned in consistent with the standing resolutions of the UNC passed on July 19.The ban order is to be strictly followed by the Naga general public of Senapati district, dealers/distributors and subscribers until the order is revoked, the NPO said.

In a separate statement the Senapati district Students� Association (SDSA) condemned the The Sangai Express in connection with a PTI report carried on July 22 under the caption �NSCN (IM) forcing Nagas to flee valley,� saying it is baseless and totally concocted report.

SDSA denied the claim in the report that there is complete communal harmony in Manipur at present.

�We can not claim a State in harmony when more than 21,000 Naga people are fleeing Imphal valley and its surroundings dominated by Meiteis.

It claimed that as per records maintained by Information Centre, held office, Senapati on July 22 the total number of persons displaced and taking shelter at Senapati, Tamenglong, Dimapur, Ukhrul, Kohima and Chandel is 21,684.It also termed as baseless the claim mentioned in the report that suspected Naga militants made anonymous telephone calls to Nagas asking them to leave the valley.

The style of using anonymous is an act of cowardice by communal fundamentalist to satisfy vested interest, it added.

Stating that Naga people who have fled their homes have many different stories to tell, the statement said they left their assets to avoid confrontation with Meiteis.

Denying the charge that the NSCN (IM) has set up relief camps at Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul, the SDSA said the report is misleading.

The report can be best clarified from district administration and the police.

The relief camps in Senapati are set up by the SDSA in collaboration with NPO and UNC, the statement clarified.

It also said spread of communicable disease is not a threat.

Comment