EMN
Dimapur, February 23
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) will impose indefinite bandh on all “Meitei/Manipuri owned vehicles” from plying in all the Naga “inhabited areas” from February 24 starting 6 am onwards due to the non-fulfillment of the memorandum served to the Government of Manipur with regard to the “threat” on life of the NSF delegation who were on the way to Ukhrul to attend the Lu-Ngai-Ni festival on February 14 and the “restriction of Naga owned vehicles” to ply in the Manipur valley areas by the Manipur commandos.
The federation in a statement sought for solidarity and co-operation from all the Naga civil organizations and concerned Nagas in seeking for justice and in registering resentment by undertaking the proposed bandh.
Any “Meitei/Manipuri owned vehicle” forcefully trying to ply in the Naga inhabited areas will be do doing at their own risk and the federation will not be responsible for any action taken against the defaulters, NSF said.
It is worth noting that the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) had on Monday resolved that, if by February 23 midnight the Manipur government failed to comply with its demands in connection with the February 14 harassment meted out on NSF officials by Manipur police commandos, the federation would impose indefinite restriction on the movement of “Meitei/Manipuri owned vehicles” in all the Naga inhabited areas w.e.f. February 24, 6 am onwards.
The decision was taken during the federation’s emergency presidential council meeting held on February 22, a day before the seven-day deadline served to the Manipur government.
According to a press statement issued by NSF president Subenthung Kithan and general secretary Boveio Poukai Duo, the house discussed at length the memorandum submitted to the government of Manipur through the Chief Minister on February 16 last following the harassment meted out on members of its official delegation on February 14 at Mantripukhri in Imphal by a duty party of Manipur police commando while the team was on their way to Ukhrul to attend Lui-Ngai-Ni festival. The NSF officials were reportedly roughed up and were also verbally abused on communal lines by the uniformed personnel.
The federation, in its memorandum, strongly demanded the termination of the duty officer in charge from service and the suspension of all the police personnel involved in the incident. It also demanded assurance from the Chief Minister of Manipur to provide safety and security of the Nagas and Naga vehicles in and around the valley areas, and for an official public apology to the Naga Students’ Federation. It had cautioned that it will be compelled to initiate its own course of action in case the Manipur government fails to take due consideration of the matter within the stipulated time.
Meanwhile, the NSF has advised all the Naga vehicles to be cautious while plying in any of the “Meiteis/Manipuris jurisdiction”.
