Dimapur, October 15 : Even as the State Cabinet at an emergency meeting today has resolved to ask the Coordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration (CCoFA) to call off the proposed bandh on National Highways from October 17, the committee has announced to go ahead with the indefinite NH-29 bandh.
The Cabinet decision to ask the CCoFA to call off the bandh was taken in view of the substantial progress made by Special Investigation Team (SIT) in two fuel adulteration cases registered in Dimapur on June 27, a joint statement issued by Chief Minister TR Zeliang and Chief Secretary. In the press statement the name of the Chief Secretary was given as RB Thong.
The Cabinet meeting held in the residential office of the Chief Minister in Kohima took note of the representation submitted by the Coordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration on September 23, demanding transfer of the two fuel adulteration cases to CBI for investigation and also the ultimatum that in case the demand was not met the Coordination Committee would enforce bandh on National Highways within the State from October 17.
After due deliberation and taking into consideration the detailed SIT report on the progress of the investigation made so far in the two cases and further taking inputs from the Chief Secretary, DGP and other officers, the Cabinet decided that as the investigation by the SIT was in advanced stage, it was not advisable to change the investigation agency at this juncture. The meeting directed the DGP to instruct the SIT to submit an interim report to the Government and also file charge-sheets in the court within the next 10 days.
The Chief Secretary was asked to convey the decision of the Cabinet to the representatives of the Coordination Committee in the light of substantial progress made by SIT, whose mandate was to comprehensively cover the subject matter as given in the two FIRs, and also because the charge-sheets would be submitted in 10 days, the statement added.
The CCoFA informed it has decided to impose indefinite highway bandh along NH-29 from 6 am on October 17.
The media cell of CCoFA, in a press communiqué, today said no tankers or government vehicles (NL-10) will be allowed to ply on the route during the 1st phase of agitation. However, it said, for the sake of the common man, NST buses will be exempt from the purview of the bandh. It informed that volunteers will be deployed at New Field Check Gate, Dillai Gate, and Chumoukedima Check point.
The CCoFA has requested travellers to be careful since entry of government vehicles to Dimapur from Assam side will be barred and also not allowed to leave for Assam. It said there shall be no restrictions on vehicular movements inside the towns, including government vehicles, during the indefinite bandh but movement of oil tankers inside the town will be strictly prohibited.
The committee further warned that it will initiate the second or final phase of indefinite highway bandh totally stopping vehicular movement state-wide in case the government does not accede to its demands. It also requested all Manipur tankers to avoid plying on NH-29.
The CCoFA assured the general public that the indefinite bandh will be peaceful while also appealing to all its supporters that there should be no violence since the agitation was on moral issue.
