Government offices hit by ANSAM's picketing in Manipur’s hill districts

• IMPHAL —  Normal functioning of government offices was affected in the Naga-inhabited hill districts of Manipur for two days in view of the enforcement of a 48-hour government office picketing by the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM).
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• The ANSAM launched the office picketing on Monday in protest against the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and construction of border fencing in Naga areas.
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• The picketing concluded on Tuesday with no reports of any major incidents in the hill districts, except a minor scuffle in Senapati district headquarters.
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•  In Senapati district, the protest was spearheaded by the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) and its federating units — Mao Students’ Union, Maram Students’ Union, Poumai Naga Students’ Union, Thangal Students’ Union and Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Senapati Zone.

Also read: Student bodies picket government offices in Senapati district

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• Similarly, the protest was enforced by the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong in Ukhrul district while Rongmei Naga Students under the banner of ANSAM led the picketing in Tamenglong district.
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• A vehicle belonging to the Superintendent of Police was reportedly damaged in a scuffle that broke out following a heated exchange during the course of the day’s office picketing at the Senapati district headquarters.
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• Picketing united display of civil resistance — ANSAM
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• Meanwhile, in a press release on Tuesday, the ANSAM) stated that it has concluded its 48-hour picketing of government offices in the Naga hill districts.
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• The office picketing was organised to protest and express Naga people's resentment against the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and construction of border fencing in Naga homeland.
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• “We are ending the office picketing today, but our people's movement will continue until there is a complete stoppage of border fencing and reinstatement of the FMR in our homeland,” the ANSAM stated.
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• The ANSAM stated that, in a strong and united display of civil resistance, the association along with its constituent and sub-ordinate units, supported by the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women's Union (NWU), concerned organisations, activists and well wishers, successfully demonstrated a peaceful office picketing for two days (June 2 and 3) in all the Naga hill districts.
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•  “The overwhelming support we received underscores the deep public concern over attempt to isolate communities through artificial borders fencing,” it added.