IMPHAL, JUNE 18: Normal life in the district headquarters of Tamenglong, Ukhrul besides Chandel and Senapati in Manipur were reportedly paralyzed on Saturday following the 24-hour "total shut-down in Naga areas" of Manipur from the midnight of June 17. The shutdown was called by the United Naga Council (UNC) to show its resentment against the "continuous suppression, subjugation and discrimination" by the "communal" Government of Manipur against the "Naga tribals".
It may be noted that the state had been facing 10 day economic blockade by Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills and Outer Manipur Tribals’ Forum in protest against the passing of three Bills in Manipur Assembly last year. The blockade which had been severely affecting the normal movement of goods trucks to Manipur along the National Highways is scheduled to conclude on June 19 mdnight.
Meanwhile paying floral tributes to the memorials of the departed souls of the June 18, 2001 incident, the 15th anniversary of the Great June Uprising Unity Day was observed at Kekrupat in Imphal today. People from different parts of the State, family members of the slain persons, people from different communities, political leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister,Ministers, ruling and opposition MLAs and civil society organisations turned up to pay respects to the departed souls who died in security forces firing.
The observation was jointly organised by All Manipur United Clubs Organisation and United Committee Manipur.
People remembered the historic day when the people took to the streets of the state capital after the then Central Government inserted the clause ‘without territorial limits’ in the ceasefire agreement with NSCN (IM). Around 22 persons lost their lives in the public protest.
The memorial service was followed by a public meeting which vowed to safeguard the territorial integrity of the State. In view of the Great June Uprising observation, almost all the road leading to Imphal, the busy main market, cinema halls, educational institutions and other establishments, remained closed since early hours to mark the occasion. Attendance in government offices was also very thin.
