Naga students in Manipur force shutdown

Senapati (Manipur), July 14 (ANI): A 72-hour shutdown called by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) in protest over alleged suppression of their rights by the Manipur Government brought normal life to a halt in Manipur's Senapati District.

"We take up this on-going agitation in protest against the arrest warrant issued against the Naga leaders by the Manipur Government for no fault of theirs. The way and the manner in which the government treated our leaders like criminals is very unfortunate. We feel the only option is to demonstrate our resentment," said Apem, General Secretary, ANSAM.

The locals are supporting the shutdown call and complaining that the attitude of the state government is step-motherly towards the Naga people.

"We totally support the shutdown, because we are against the communal government, which is of Manipur, and their attitude towards the Naga people has been, they have been treating us so step motherly," said Abdul, a local.

"We totally are against attitude of the Manipur Government, and therefore, we have no option but this is the only way out to address our grievances," he added.

The Nagas residing in the districts of Manipur that skirt the Nagaland state are demanding provision of the Sixth Schedule in the hills districts.

In the month of April, the Nagas launched an economic blockade that paralyzed life for 68 days against the Manipur government's decision to hold district council elections under the existing provisions of the District Council Act, 2008.

The Nagas have also been angry over a Manipur Government directive banning the entry of Thuingaleng Muivah, General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) from visiting his native village in Senapati district. (ANI)