IMPHAL, April 8: The All Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Assam Manipur and Nagaland (AZSU-AMN) has called a 48 hours total bandh in Zeliangrong inhabited area in Manipur with effect from April 17 midnight to April 19 midnight.
Clarifying on imposition of the bandh the students’ body in a press statement issued by its general secretary, Nchaheing Kompoing, stated that the decision was taken to pressure the government to translate their demands into action. It recalled that a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India against the high handedness of the 11 Assam Rifles at Tamenglong head quarter and other security forces in Zeliangrong inhabited areas in Manipur.
It said that the bandh covers both national and international projects including the railway however medical service, electricity, religious function and water supply is exempted from the purview of the bandh, it said.
It pointed out that the charter of demands mentioned in the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister of India and Home Minister includes immediate withdrawal of AFSPA 1958 from North East Regions, immediate transfer of 11 Assam Rifles from Zeliangrong inhabited areas, removal of all Indian army check post/gates on highways and district highways and befitting punitive action against high handed colonel Chonkar of 11 AR.
The statement lamented that Zeliangrong people in particular and Nagas in general have been victimized by the Indian security forces for more than 60 years on the pretext of Law and Order under the aegis of AFSPA.
It questioned the relevance of AFSPA imposition in Naga habited area today when the whole Naga areas have been covered by the Indo-Naga peace process. This reflects insincerity on the part of the government of India, it decried.
Thousands of Naga people have been living with indelible physical scars, psychologically and emotionally due to excessive torture by the Indian armed forces. At the same time, it questioned the intention of 11 AR under colonel Chonkar for trying to disrupt a time valued peace process between the GOI and Naga.
It appealed all the general public and all authorities concerned to extend co-operation to make the 48 hour total bandh a success.
It also informed that any untoward incident arising out of the defiance of the bandh would be the responsibilities of the defaulter concerned.
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