IMPHAL, September 28: With several hundreds of Naga villagers concentrating at Thamnapokpi village, the economic blockade along the Imphal-Moreh highway under the banner of the United Naga Council against the demand for a separate Sadar Hills district will be intensified from September 29.
The convenor of Chandel Naga People’s CO-ordination Committee, Kohring Vistor during an interaction with media persons at Thamnapokpi village informed that the economic blockade supporters along the highway have always acted during the blockade in a democratic and peaceful manner.
“The economic blockade imposed under the aegis of the Chandel Naga Peoples’ Organization in a show of solidarity to the present counter blockade call of the UNC against the SHDDC economic blockade, has only prevented transportation of essential commodities from Moreh to Imphal”.
He further stated that the unfortunate incident of September 23 at Thamnapokpi, when a Tata Sumo driver was injured, was not the handiwork of the blockade supporters as the blockade suppoerters are against committing any crime or physical harassment of drivers or the passengers.
“The blockade supporters only checked the passing vehicles for any essential commodities tucked in”, added Vistor.
However, he added that the driver of the Tata Sumo who was carrying essential commodities tried to run away on seeing the checking of vehicles by the blockade supporters at Thamnapokpi village and in the process met with the accident injuring himself.
He also described the news reports that were published in the various local dailies, charging the agitators for the cause of the accident on September 23 as unfortunate and further added that the factual report of the incident was taken and recorded by the IO concerned, officer in charge of Tengnoupal Police Station in presence of several police team from Thoubal police.
He later submitted the report to his higher authorities concerned of the state police department the next day, he further added.
He also mentioned that, it was quite unfortunate on the part of the state police department, failing to take up any positive steps as per the official report of the OC Tengnoupal on the September 23 incident.
Meanwhile, Paul Hring, another member of the committee further supplemented by saying that the allegation made against the blockade supporters on September 23 incident and the subsequent imposition of indefinite bandh along the Imphal Moreh road by the All Manipur Transporter, Drivers’ and Motor Workers’ Union which seem to be primarily targeting people of Chandel district are unfortunate.
“The matter should have been seriously considered by the civil society organizations of Kakching and the transporters’ union before taking up their indefinite chakka bandh which has prevented transporting of essential commodities into the Chandel district by the agitators since September 24.”
The steps taken up by the All Manipur Transporter, Drivers’ and Motor Workers’ Union and the public of Kakching has communal feelings which the people of the Chandel district have never expected from the peace loving neighbouring communities, he added
Later the general secretary Naga Women Union Chandel, Bliss further told the media persons that the sudden imposition of chakka bandh along the Imphal-Moreh highway stretch and the burning down of a 407 mini truck carrying essential commodities meant for Chandel district and further preventing vehicles going towards Chandel district with the support of local public of Kakching since the last couple of days were unfortunate.
She further stated that the event of attacking vehicles moving towards Chandel district during the bandh supporters in and around Kakching area could amount to serious communal tension and also added that the people need to maintain communal harmony in the area.
She also informed that the economic blockade along the Imphal Moreh highway will be intensified from tomorrow, even though the state government has taken up stern actions to provide security to the transporters to ply along the highway.
She also added that the Naga women of Chandel will never give up their stand until an amicable solution is brought between the government and the UNC.