Newmai News Network
DIMAPUR/IMPHAL, Jan 17: Normal activities in Nagaland commercial hub Dimapur and the state capital Kohima, as well as Naga-dominated areas in Manipur were affected due to the 12-hour bandh called by the NSCN-IM in protest against the move by New Delhi that prevented its chairman Isak Chisi Swu and general secretary Th. Muivah from visiting Zunheboto in Nagaland Saturday last.
Talking to Newmai News Network this evening, convenor of the NSCN-IM Steering Committee, V.S Atem said the bandh ended at 6 pm on Tuesday in `Nagalim`.
All business establishments in Dimapur were seen shut down during the bandh hours. In Kohima, the impact of the bandh was severe too with no shops seen opened. However, both private and public vehicles were seen plying as usual in the two towns.
In Senapati district headquarter, shops were closed since morning. Reports received from there said except a few vegetable vendors more or less all commercial places did not operate. Similar reports were also received from the district headquarters of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel.
It is worth noting that on January 14, Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu were on their way to Zunheboto from their camp in Hebron along with a large entourage consisting of about 70 vehicles but were stopped by a waiting Assam Rifles team led by a brigadier at Bade village at around 9:30 am. Bade village is located about 20 kilometres from NSCN-IM`s Hebron camp.
The Assam Rifles personnel asked Muivah and Swu not to go ahead with their visit to Zunheboto without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs. At around 3 pm the MHA had reportedly allowed Muivah and Isak Swu to visit Zunheboto but laid certain conditions.
One of the conditions was that Muivah and Swu should travel without weapons. The second condition was that their personal security guards shall not carry weapons even if they were concealed. The third condition was that the number of vehicles shall not exceed twenty and the NSCN-IM leaders will not hold any public meeting or press conference.
