IMPHAL, February 3: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has imposed a 12-hour State-wide bandh from 5am to 5pm on Wednesday.
The bandh, UCM president Y Nabachandra said is a show of support to the ongoing indefinite bandh along the National Highway 102 (Imphal-Moreh road) imposed by villagers of Tengnoupal and supported by other civil society organisation.
Making the announcement of the bandh today, he said the Imphal-Moreh Highway is one of the most important lifelines of the State, however the people travelling along the highway have been suffering a lot of undue atrocities at the hands of the Assam Rifles posted along this route.
He said decrying the 24 Assam Rifles alleged act of denying free movement to the villagers, several local organisations of Chandel have supported the indefinite bandh called by Tengnoupal villagers.
Nabachandra further assured to support all steps taken by the CSOs based in Chandel district indirectly and that a further course of action of the UCM will be announced soon after fully considering the situation of the blockade and bandh along with the CSOs of Chandel.
The issue is not only of Tengnoupal villagers he said adding that it is a State issue as it is affecting the whole State.
Passenger services and small time Moreh business persons who depend on the road for their livelihood are all harsely affected by the prolonged checking and other atrocities committed in the name of checking along the highway, he continued.
Reports had stated that personnel of the 24 Assam Rifles had restricted free passes of any vehicle even those carrying sick people across their post, said Nabachandra.
He said after properly monitoring the issue, the UCM will announce its own course of agitation against the AR and the government.
Essential services and other religious activities are exempted from the purview of the bandh, he said.
