UKHRUL, July 26: The public co-operation has ensured successful observance of the United Naga Council (UNC) sponsored 48-hour bandh in Ukhrul as no incident of violence or violation has been reported along the district’s National Highway 150 on its concluding day on Saturday.
Sources from the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has today informed that public response to the bandh has been overwhelming in the district, while adding that in anticipation of the same no volunteers were deployed this time.
Consequently, the NH-150 in the district has remained deserted for the two days as all vehicles stopped plying along the route. Passenger services including Imphal-Ukhrul bus and town- village taxi services were disrupted. However, normal life in Ukhrul town was not affected during the bandh.
UNC had called the bandh on all vehicular movements on NH 2, NH 37 and NH 150 in Naga dominated areas from midnight of July 24 last and the bandh is ending midnight tonight. The apex Naga body had earlier called upon the prime minister Narendra Modi to expidiate GoI’ intervention in AA demand, while also appealing for lifting of 144 CrPc from Ukhrul and withdrawal of state security forces from all Naga areas in the State.
Incidentally, earlier during the day today, a loud explosion that occurred somewhere near the famed picnic spot Phangrei about some 20 kms from Ukhrul district headquarters, had caused panic among the public. Unconfirmed reports said that on learning the blast, security forces including police commondos rushed to the spot.
It however later turned out that the loud report had been caused by some dynamites used for blasting/breaking huge stones at a quarry.
By R Lester Makang
