NSF calls for support to July 1 bandh

DIMAPUR, JUNE 29 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), while appreciating civil societies for extending their cooperation to the protest rally on June 28, urged the public for continued support to the ‘total bandh’ called by the NSF on July 1 from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
A press note from the NSF General Secretary, Esther Rhakho informed that the proposed ‘total bandh’ would restrict all vehicular and pedestrian movement, any form of functions, programs or events.

In order to avoid any untoward incident, the federation has once again appealed to all government establishments, the business community and educational institutions to remain closed during the bandh. It stated that “any individual ignoring the fervent appeal of the students’ community will be doing so at their own peril and for which, the federation will not be held responsible.”

The NSF said that the intention of the proposed total bandh is to express “strong resentment against the incessant clashes and killings amongst the underground factions, imposition of illegal taxation by the Naga UGs, against all arbitrary harassment and threatening the lives of innocent civilians and also the recent attempt on life of federation official.” It was also informed that administration, security personnel, emergency medical services and media would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.

DNSU extends
cooperation
The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union extended its “fullest cooperation” to the NSF’s ‘total bandh’ call on July 1. The Office of the DNSU through a press note from its President and General Secretary appealed to the public concerned, educational institutions and business establishments to co-operate and support the Union for the said total bandh. While informing the public that the bandh will be strictly imposed on vehicular movement, pedestrian, and government and private functions, the DNSU stated that Administration, Police, Security Force, Medical Emergency, Fire Brigade, Power Department on duty and Media Fraternity would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.

Breather for Manipur as goods trucks reach Imphal

IMPHAL: Over 400 trucks carrying essential commodities from Assam reached the Manipur capital along National Highway 53 ( Imphal-Silchar Road) accompanied with heavy security escorts on Saturday afternoon, much to the relief for the people of blockade-hit state. 

"At least 500 more trucks, coming along the same route, have been halted in the Awangkhul area, about 70 km from Imphal, owing to security reasons. The vehicles will reach Imphal on Sunday," a police official said.

A large number of state police and paramilitary forces are keeping sharp vigil along the Awangkhul -Imphal stretch of NH 53 to ensure the trucks reach Imphal without any threats from the agitators.

The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) has been imposing economic blockades on NH-39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-53 since August 1 seeking conversion of the Kuki-dominated Sadar Hills into a full-fledged district by carving out three sub-divisions of Senapati.

On the other hand, the United Naga Council (UNC) has come down heavily on the state government's alleged attempt to bifurcate the Naga-dominated areas to create a new district and also called "total bandh" on all national highways passing through areas inhabited by the Nagas since August 21.

The blockade and the bandh have triggered an acute scarcity of essential commodities in the strife-torn state. Till Friday, the stock of petrol, diesel and LPG was very low and black-marketers sold petrol at Rs 140 a litre and charged Rs 1400 for a filled LPG cylinder.

Only 226 kilo litre of petrol and 846 kilo litre of diesel were left at IOC depot at Chingmeirong in Imphal, sources said, adding that petrol would last for three days and diesel nine days.

Besides petroleum products, the state is facing acute shortage of food items and household materials owing to the blockade by Kukis and the counter-blockade by Nagas.