Dimapur, Dec. 17 (EMN): The All Commercial Vehicle Association (ACVA) Wokha has announced a ‘total indefinite bandh’ within Wokha jurisdiction from 6 am of Dec. 18.
A press statement from the ACVA on Sunday informed that the shutdown has been called to protest the ‘seizure of taxi keys’ by alleged ‘erring NSCN (IM) cadres’ at Khedi Transport Agency, Taxi Counter, Kezieke NB III Kohima for ‘not entertaining yearly vehicle tax’.
“The bandh has been imposed due to non compliance of the ACVA’s demand by the erring NSCN (IM) cadres who fails (sic) to hand over the seized keys at the given dateline (i.e. 16th Dec 2017). The frontal organization supporting the total bandh has appended their signature of which – ACAUT Wokha, Lotha Eloe Hoho, Lotha Youth Hoho, Lotha Students’ Union, WDCC&I, WDEA and WDAU were present in the meeting.
“In an emergency meeting held at ACVA Wokha office today had unanimously decided to impose the said bandh, which will enforce beginning 6 in the morning and will continue till the demand is met. It also stated that if any untoward incident arises during the bandh, the NSCN (IM) organization will be held responsible,” the statement read.
It has appealed all commercial vehicles and business establishment to cooperate. Exemptions from the purview of bandh have been made for personnel of media, paramilitary, fire and emergency services, district administration and police.
In a separate statement, the Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has expressed shock ‘that despite the dire situation of the Naga political reality the factions would still indulge in anti-people activities thus hampering the Naga cause’.
At a time when ‘the statesmanship of the NPGs’ is called for, it stated, provoking the masses with condemnable criminal activities is not only foolish but creating roadblocks towards settlement of the Naga issue itself. “Thus, the NPGs creating such a situation is totally condemnable.”
It requested ‘the various NPGs’ to undertake immediate remedial measures with regard to two situations which have ‘angered the masses’.
“The NSCN-IM Kohima command/region should return the keys of the taxis which its cadres had seized on the 13th December to the rightful owners immediately and apologize publicly failing which the ACAUT will be compelled to file FIR and resort to other course of action. In the meantime, it supports the indefinite bandh called by the ACVA to protest the manner in which its members have been harassed. Again, to harass the ACVA would be a direct challenge to all right-thinking Nagas.
“That a responsible Secretary, DAN, should be kidnapped and his life put at risk is most condemnable. The ACAUT demands that the NSCN-R clear the air surrounding their role in the kidnapping of a bonafide Naga. It also demands that the NSCN-R give a public apology and terminate its erring cadres in case the organization is responsible. The NSCN-R should understand that it being a part of the Working Committee of the NNPGs means that it’s imperative to act most responsibly,” it sated.
