Imphal, May 24 2010: Even though Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur had claimed that one of the two youths rounded up by police commandos on May 20 last was its office bearer and called bandh on the NH-53, police said they were volunteers of the agitating All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM).

A team of Imphal west police commandos had arrested two youths Micah Kamei (31) son of Sabungam of Gaidimjang village of Khoupum sub-division of Tamenglong district and Meithuanlung Poul Gangmei (30) son of Mathiulung Gangmei of Makhan village near Tupul of Tamenglong district were rounded up by the police from Langol Tarung village under Lamphel police station at about 2 pm of May 20 last.

With the expiry of the deadline served by the ZSUM to release the two youths, bandh has been called on the NH-53 with effect from May 25 to May 26 .

The union claimed that Micah as the public relation secretary of ZSUM while the other as his friend.

Police, in its case registered against the duo, said that they were volunteers of All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) and involved in the burning down of government offices in the hill districts of the state in total contradict to a statement of the Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM).

Micah is the publicity relation secretary of ZSUM while Meithuanlung is his friend, the statement signed by the state secretary of ZSUM Chungthuigai Kamei said the statement signed by Chunthuigai Kamei, state secretary, ZSUM dispatched today and announced the imposition of the bandh on the NH-53 in protest against the failure on the part of the state government to release them without any conditions.

The union served the ultimatum to government on May 22 to release them within 24 hour.

The lack of taking initiative by the government has compelled to impose the bandh, the statement added.

The Union also warned that series of agitations will be launched if the authority concern fails to release them without any condition.

Medical, electricity, water supply will be exempted from the bandh.

On the other hand according to FIR case registered with the Lamphel police said that the two volunteers of ANSAM behind the imposition of economic blockade on the national highways in the state.

They were sent by senior members of the ANSAM in Imphal to seek co-operation of the Naga public of Imphal area to strengthen the ongoing economic blockade paralyzing the supply of essential commodities, the police case report said.

State has been facing acute shortage of essential commodities particularly vehicle fuel and life saving drugs due to the prolong imposition of the economic blockade on the NH-39 and 53 .

From their disclosure, police also established that they were also involved in burning down of government offices in the hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong.

Besides they also threatened employees of government offices, teachers and students of the colleges not to attain offices, schools and colleges, the police report said.

Over 30 government offices extending over four naga dominated hill districts of Manipur since May 6, the day on which two Mao youths were killed in violence incident at Mao gate in a stand-off between protestors and security forces deployed for preventing NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah from entering the state.

Among other offices that razed to ground in the series of arson, a tribal development block office under Somdal police station of Ukhrul, the birthplace of the general secretary was one, according to police report.

Police have taken into remand the two volunteers detained under FIR case no.49(5) 2010 under section 307/186/189/431/120-B/427 of IPC and 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act 1932 of Lamphel police station of Imphal west.

Further investigation is on to the activities of the two volunteers on their involving in other activities related with ANSAM's stir, the police source added.

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