IMPHAL, May 26: Indo-Burma trade and vehicular movement along National Highway-102 came to a grinding halt today due to the ongoing 48-hour highway bandh imposed by the Joint Action Committee from May 25 midnight demanding immediate removal of KNO/KNLF from Tengnoupal Block.
In a press meet which was attended by the JAC members at Kuki Students`™ Organisation, Tengnoupal Block, Chandel, JAC secretary L Thangboi Mate reiterated that the JAC was compelled to impose the bandh as the government has utterly failed to shift the designated camp of KNLF from Tengnoupal Block despite intimation by local MLA DK Korungthang to Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam on May 19 appealing to shift the camp within two days.
He said that the Hermon designated camp has already accommodated cadres of KNA, UMLA and PRA but the recent inclusion of KNLF cadre into the said camp has created lots of problems in the area.
He warned that if the government fails to address the matter then the JAC will be compelled to resort to launch intense agitation after the ADC election on June 1.
He continued that cadres of the underground outfits were allowed to stay in the camp following an understanding with the Government of India and Government of Manipur with the hope that it will being peace in the area.
`We want potable water and more schools in the area but not guns and violence`™, he said, adding that development does not come from resorting to using guns.
Saying that there is an apparent lack of infrastructure to bring development in the area but the government has turned the area into a zone of UG groups, he questioned that how students and youths in the area could become good and responsible citizens in such unfavourable situation in the area.
He urged to the government to fulfil the demands of the JAC including immediate removal of KNLF cadres from the block at the earliest so as to maintain peace and harmony in the area.
Supporting the bandh, locals of the area blocked the National Highway 102 and slogans such as `we want peace and harmony not gun`™, `Do not make our area a den of underground outfits`™ etc were displayed.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/vehicular-movement-along-nh102-disrupted-due-to-jac-bandh/