72-hr bandh in Manipur’s Naga areas begins

IMPHAL, Oct 23 - While the entire population of the State is facing the impact of the almost three month economic blockade, Naga students began its 72 hours total bandh in Naga inhabited areas in Manipur. The bandh was affected from Friday midnight.

All Naga Students’ Association Manipur(ANSAM) decrying the alleged failure of the Centre to intervene over the demand for ‘Alternative Arrangement’ for the Nagas in Manipur raised by United Naga Council, announced the bandh.

With the beginning of the bandh in the Naga inhabited, normal life has been affected in Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong district headquarters as most of the shops remained closed. The passengers as well as goods carrying vehicles have suspended their normal services.

‘’We will first observe a 3-day total bandh in all Naga areas from the midnight of October 21 to midnight of October 24”,says ANSAM’s publicity cell in a statement. “However, in respect of Chandel district, the total bandh on October 23 will be relaxed due to ‘Chavan Kumhrin festival.’

Moreover, schools will be an exempted but any vehicular movement on school duties will fall under the purview of the total bandh, the statement said adding the from October 25 there will be indefinite total shut down for one hour from 12 noon to 1pm everyday excepting Sundays in all district headquarters, sub-divisional headquarters and National and State Highways.

Manipur has been presently facing its worst supplies crisis due to economic blockade on the NH-39 (Dimapur-Kohima-Imphal) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar)-the life lines of the State since July 31 by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee spearheaded by Kuki communities demanding creation of the Sadar hills district while Naga group-United Naga Council, protesting the creation of it with Naga inhabited areas.