Manipur Police and paramilitary for the second consecutive day, denied passage to the general public at the Nagaland-Manipur interstate border.
NGOs leaders from Nagaland- Naga Hoho, NSF and their subordinate bodies, NMA and NPMHR- were denied entry and were forced to return back.
Terming the act of Manipur government as an insult to all the Nagas, the federation today announced indefinite bandh on all Manipur vehicles in the entire Naga inhabited areas from 6 p.m. Tuesday till its demand for immediate revocation of 144 CrPc clamped in various part of Naga inhabited areas was lifted and unconditional apology tendered by the government for insulting the entire Nagas.
The NSF took the decision at a consultative meeting with civil societies Tuesday evening.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference at the NSF office here, NSF president Mutsikhoyo Yhobu said its officials who went to inspect and assess the prevailing situation in and around Mao gate Monday and Tuesday were on "a peace mission".
He said the Manipur government failed to understand the mission and insulted the federation, the entire Naga students, youth and younger generation. He said apex civil bodies were also denied entry and access to Nagas on the other side, thereby insulting the entire Nagas.
"We don't want to create any communal enmity but if they can do their own, we are also adamant to do our own", said NSF general secretary Wati Jamir, who also informed that the bandh took effect from Tuesday evening at Dimapur.
"We represent the not only the students but the entire Naga youth and younger generation and when we tried to inspect and access the prevailing situation, we're denied entry in our own land," said NSF assembly speaker KelhouneizoYhome. He said NSF covered not only in Nagaland but the entire Naga inhabited areas.
Further, he also informed that in view of NSF indefinite bandh, the scheduled NSF federal assembly at Oinam Hill village would stand suspended till further notice.
The joint force of Manipur Police, Commando, IRB and CRPF personnel also denied entry to the Kohima-based media persons based who had gone to cover the prevailing situation.
Security personnel at the check gate said the Manipur cabinet has ordered that no Nagaland journalist be permitted entry on the plea that media persons in Nagaland would distort or twist the actual prevailing situation.
However, after much persuasion the media team from Nagaland, also accompanied by some journalists from other parts of the country, were allowed to enter but only for 15 to 20 minutes. Thousands of Naga women carrying placards and defying the 144CrPc imposed at Mao Gate, Tadubi and Maram held silent protest rallies for the second consecutive day at several places along the NH-39.
"Every time, Manipur government claimed that there was no Nagas in Manipur state, so we want to prove that there is Nagas and that Muivah is our leader who hails from Somdal in Ukhrul," said MNWWA president K. Matia.
"We want to welcome Muivah who is our leader", said another woman protestor.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the curfew, which was imposed on Monday, was lifted but the 144 CrPc remained till Tuesday.
6 trucks burnt, NSF bans Manipur vehicle movement
Narain B Sagar | EMN
KOHIMA, MAY 4: In an act that is set to further fuel the tense situation that has arisen out of the Manipur government's move to ban NSCN-IM general secretary Th Muivah from visiting his home village, unidentified armed miscreants burnt down six Manipur-bound goods laden trucks stranded along the National Highway-39 in between Viswema and Khuzama village under Kohima district last night at around 11:00 pm.
According to information from various sources, the drivers and handymen of the trucks are reported to have said that around 10-15 unknown armed miscreants arrived at around 11 pm and threatened them to flee leaving their vehicles behind or face the consequences. Subsequently, the miscreants fired some blank rounds, physically assaulted some of the drivers and then started to torch the trucks.
On receiving the information, police personnel stationed at Khuzama Check Gate rushed to the spot but the miscreants had already fled while four goods-laden trucks were completely burnt and two more partially damaged.
The trucks, bearing registration numbers MN01-5615, MN01-6444, MN01A-1266 and NL07A-1408 and carrying construction materials like cement, iron rod, tiles and grocery goods including sweets, biscuits, oil, soap, juices, etc, were razed to ashes along with the goods. The two other trucks, MN04A-4099 and MN03T-0014, managed to escape and reach Khuzama check gate but were partially damaged.
The damage caused inclusive of the trucks and goods would amount to over Rs. One Crore, sources said, adding that police, on searching the area, recovered 2 empty cases of 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine of .22 rifle containing six live rounds.
No individual or organisation had claimed responsibility for the incident and hunt for the culprits was on till the time of filing this report.
Around 370 trucks are stranded in the area due to the indefinite economic blockade called by Nagas of Manipur and continuing for over two weeks now. Consequent upon last night's incident, police and para-military forces have escorted more than 320 vehicles to Manipur but around 20 trucks are still stranded at Khuzama Check Gate due to mechanical failure.
After the incident, local Congress MLA of the constituency KV Pusa visited Khuzama Gate to take stock of the situation this afternoon. He appealed for mutual understanding to resolve all outstanding issues and to desist from confrontation that would further aggravate the situation.
Don't park trucks between Kohima-Khuzama Gate: ASU
Meanwhile, the Angami Students' Union (ASU) has fervently appealed to the truck owners and drivers bound for Manipur state to stop parking their vehicles between Kohima and Khuzama Gate as it was creating untoward incidents and inconveniences to the people of the surrounding villages.
A release issued by ASU President Voto Neikha and Assembly Secretary Thepfulie Thenuo said the regrettable incident where five trucks bound for Manipur had been burnt and destroyed last night between Viswema Village and Khuzama Gate has created serious concern. While condemning such criminal activities in its territory, the student body duly cautioned the truckers to take heed of the genuine appeal of the union and stop halting their trucks in the said area to avoid such kind of uncalled incidents in future.
In advocating and upholding congenial, peaceful and rightful existence of the people in its habitat, the ASU appealed to the concerned truck owners and drivers to take heed of this matter with due seriousness.
The ASU has also pointed the unhealthy environment created due to the open human defecation and random disposal of wastes on the roadsides, which posses as a serious threat to the very health and well being of the villager people.
Further, the ASU has strongly condemned the Manipur Government for preventing the free flow of Nagaland registered vehicles towards Mao gate, whereas the Manipur registered vehicles are being freely allowed passage. It is pertinent and dubious on the part of the Manipur Government as it is ushering such unbalanced passage that is obstructing the movement of innocent passengers and denying the right of the people to free movement.
Dimapur Reporter adds: Officials of NSF accompanied by Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) late this evening visited and deployed volunteers at New Fied and Dillai Check Gates to prevent any vehicle bound for Manipur from crossing into the State from Assam.
NSF officials said that no vehicles, private or otherwise as well as trucks bound for Manipur would be allowed to croos into Nagaland.
More than 200 goods laden trucks including Oil Tankers bound for Manipur remain stranded at Assam and Nagaland border check gates.
Nagaland police manning the gates have been put directed to stop any truck bound for Manipur to remain proceed no further till adequate security can be provided.
SP Dimapur Liremo Lotha speaking over phone said the reason for the caution is to ensure that no untoward incidents takes place.
Dimapur police is in the process of tying up with Kohima counterpart to escort the trucks on certain specific dates, SP Liremo informed.
NSF says Manipur govt must apologise
KOHIMA, MAY 4: Consequent upon the expiry of the 24-hour deadline given to the Chief Minister of Manipur by the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) to revoke the 144 CrPC imposed upon the Naga inhabited areas and also irked over the insult faced yesterday at Manipur Welcome Gate, the apex students body in the State today decided to impose indefinite bandh on the movement of Manipur vehicles in all the Naga inhabited areas.
Revealing this at a press-briefing on expiry of the deadline at Kohima this evening, NSF President Mutsikhoyo Yhobu said, on learning about the sudden clamping of 144 CrPC and curfew by Manipur Government in Mao Gate under Senapati district of Manipur, which is a Naga inhabited area, the NSF officials had been on their way to take stock of the situation yesterday which was purely a peace mission. However, the Manipur Government had failed to understand the mission and the Manipur police personnel deployed at the Welcome Gate had stopped them from entering Mao Gate, he said.
Subsequently, he said an ultimatum was served to Manipur Chief Minister yesterday demanding revocation of the 144 CrPC by 6 pm today, but informed that there has not been any response.
The action of the Manipur Government has hurt the sentiments of the students' body as it is not only an insult to the student leaders but to the Nagas in general, the NSF said.
Following a series of discussions with the civil societies of the State today, the NSF said it has decided to launch an indefinite 'bandh' against the movement of Manipur vehicles in all Naga inhabited areas until and unless Manipur Government tenders an unconditional apology to the NSF and also revokes the 144 CrPC from Naga inhabited areas in Manipur.
NSF General Secretary O. Wati Jamir added that the Federation does not desire creation of any communal tension between the two states but stated that if they (Manipur Government) 'can do such things, then even we are firm enough to take our own steps'.
The NSF said the ban on movement of Manipur vehicles would start from Dimapur – Dillai Gate and Nagaland Gate - with the support and coordination of the subordinate units with effect from tonight.
NSF Assembly Speaker Kelhouneizo Yhome, while condemning the action of the Manipur Government, informed that the proposed Federal Assembly of the NSF scheduled for May 7 at Oinam Village , Senapati district, has been kept in abeyance till an amicable solution to the ongoing crisis is found.
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