By R Lester Makang
UKHRUL, July 14: Taking serious note of the series of recent developments, the Tangkhul Frontal Organizations (TFOs) have today set a deadline of 24 hour for their consensual three-point demands which included revocation of Section 144 of CrPc, withdrawal of reinforced combined team of Manipur Police Commondo (MPC) and Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) and unconditional release of all the NSCN-IM cadres arrested from WTR office and their seized properties and documents immediately to restore the WTR’s status quo pre-July 13 incident.
The three-point demands were stated in a memorandum submitted to the Governor of Manipur through the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul district today which was jointly signed by representatives of Tangkhul Frontal Organizations (TFOs), namely Artax A Shimray, president TNL, SC Ringluiwon president TSL, Joel Angkang president TKS, Ningkhan Shangh president TMNL and Dearson general secretary TNWL.
Stating in no uncertain terms that the demands should be addressed within the stipulated 24-hour time, the memo threatened that in the event of the government failing to do so, they would be compelled to take recourse to democratic forms of agitation.
According to TFOs statement, the promulgation of section 144 CrPc in the town is effected on the pretext of containing probable disturbance of public tranquillity in the wake of the killing of ADC member Ngalangzar Malue, which does not arise.
And that deployment of hundreds of Manipur police commandos and IRB personnel here is creating a warlike situation and an environment wherein the safety and security of the civil populace is highly at stake, it stated.
As for the demand for unconditional release of all members of WTR, the statement maintained that WTR office was set up in the town to facilitate public relations and to strengthen dispensation of justice among the Tangkhul Naga populace.
“The raid on WTR office therefore, is a direct attempt to deny the Tangkhul Naga people their quest for peace and justice,” the TFOs reasoned while adding that such act also violates ceasefire agreement between GOI and NSCN-IM.