IMPHAL, April 22 NNN: There have been panic buying of fuel as the Zeliangrong organisations sponsored indefinite ‘total bandh’ of national hoghways leading to Manipur has begun since today.
The bandh has been called demanding the release of school girl Alice Kamei from the custody of militant outfit Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF).
Mentionably, RPF/PLA says Alice Kamei is 16 years old and had joined the outfit on her own volition on March 10 while the Zeliangrong organisations rejected the former’s version and accused the militant outfit of kidnapping the school girl to force her to join the militant outfit. The Zeliangrong organisations also said that Alice Kamei is only 14 years old.
On Monday, the bandh was not effective along the Imphal-Dimapur road (NH-2) as transporters were seen plying in it but the Imphal-Silchar road (NH-37) was total.
However, no untoward incidents have been reported on the first day of the agitation.
In Imphal, many oil pumps were seen closed.
All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (AZSU), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) and Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) said the ‘total bandh’ will continue as long as Alice Kamei is in the custody of the RPF/PLA.
The Zeliangrong organisations had already called 48 hours bandh ealier and had carried out series of sin-in protest demanding the release of the school girl.
“We will not stop the total bandh along the national highways as long as Alice Kamei is detained by the RPF/PLA. Several organisations have assured their supports,” said the Zeliangrong student leaders today. They said the volunteers are now spread in all the strategic points to impose the total bandh.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/blockade-begins-oil-depots-closed-down/
