Imphal | November 4 : The United Naga Council (UNC) sponsored three days bandh turned violent on the first day today. At least 10 persons, mostly women bandh supporters have been wounded while engaging in a scuffle with security forces at Noney along national highway 37 in Tamenglong district of Manipur after three vehicles were set on fire by the agitators, on Friday.
The incident took place around 11:30 Friday when volunteers of United Naga Council (UNC) and All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), enforcing a 72-hour total bandh across Naga areas in Manipur protesting against a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the State government and Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC), set ablaze three goods loaded trucks, including one vehicle belonging to State police commando personnel, who were escorting the trucks on the national highway.
When the security personnel tried to prevent vandalism, a fight ignited with the bandh supporters and in a short moment large crowd gathered at the scene, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to disperse them. At least 10 people were injured in the police action, sources said.
Sources said the security team led by SDPOs of Imphal West and Imphal East were heading towards Imphal with six goods loaded trucks, which had been stranded at a CRPF camp in Awangkhul on the highway about 20 km from Noney this morning when bandh supporters stopped them at a place between Awangkhul and Langkhong and set on fire three vehicles, including one belonging to the security personnel.
It is also reported that the vehicles, all Tata Sumo vehicles, were loaded with betel.
A public meeting was held at Noney minutes after the incident which the agitators termed as a direct assault at the Naga people. They said the police resorted to lathi charge and fired more than a thousand rounds of tear gas shells, including live rounds and added that around 30 empty cases of sophisticated weapons were found, according to sources.
They also alleged five houses nearby were damaged in the firing besides four stationery vehicles were also hit by bullets. The agitation, which was started from last midnight, was launched by ANSAM and UNC barely four days after a MoU was signed between the State government and Sadar Hills Disricthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) which suspended its 92-day- long economic blockade stir on October 31.
The furor over the agreement is largely because of the apprehension that the government is likely to concede the demand for Sadar Hills district formation. The Naga organisations are stoutly opposing the move, saying Naga areas in Sadar Hills should not be carved out to create Sadar Hills district.
Meanwhile the United Naga Council (UNC) alleged the IRB and Manipur police commandos committed brutalities at Noney in Tamenglong districts on the Nagas. It said a combined team of IRB and Manipur police commandos led by DSP Krishna Tombi Singh came in 40 vehicles and led loose a reign of terror at Longmei bazar by firing in random without any provocation from the public.
The incident took place around 11:30 Friday when volunteers of United Naga Council (UNC) and All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), enforcing a 72-hour total bandh across Naga areas in Manipur protesting against a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the State government and Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC), set ablaze three goods loaded trucks, including one vehicle belonging to State police commando personnel, who were escorting the trucks on the national highway.
When the security personnel tried to prevent vandalism, a fight ignited with the bandh supporters and in a short moment large crowd gathered at the scene, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to disperse them. At least 10 people were injured in the police action, sources said.
Sources said the security team led by SDPOs of Imphal West and Imphal East were heading towards Imphal with six goods loaded trucks, which had been stranded at a CRPF camp in Awangkhul on the highway about 20 km from Noney this morning when bandh supporters stopped them at a place between Awangkhul and Langkhong and set on fire three vehicles, including one belonging to the security personnel.
It is also reported that the vehicles, all Tata Sumo vehicles, were loaded with betel.
A public meeting was held at Noney minutes after the incident which the agitators termed as a direct assault at the Naga people. They said the police resorted to lathi charge and fired more than a thousand rounds of tear gas shells, including live rounds and added that around 30 empty cases of sophisticated weapons were found, according to sources.
They also alleged five houses nearby were damaged in the firing besides four stationery vehicles were also hit by bullets. The agitation, which was started from last midnight, was launched by ANSAM and UNC barely four days after a MoU was signed between the State government and Sadar Hills Disricthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) which suspended its 92-day- long economic blockade stir on October 31.
The furor over the agreement is largely because of the apprehension that the government is likely to concede the demand for Sadar Hills district formation. The Naga organisations are stoutly opposing the move, saying Naga areas in Sadar Hills should not be carved out to create Sadar Hills district.
Meanwhile the United Naga Council (UNC) alleged the IRB and Manipur police commandos committed brutalities at Noney in Tamenglong districts on the Nagas. It said a combined team of IRB and Manipur police commandos led by DSP Krishna Tombi Singh came in 40 vehicles and led loose a reign of terror at Longmei bazar by firing in random without any provocation from the public.
