Naga students to block Manipur highway during bandh

Manipur is bracing for another 48-hour bandh called by a Naga outfit on National Highway 53 from July 9.

Manipur,which is yet to recover from a two-month-long twin highway blockade,is bracing for another 48-hour bandh called by a Naga outfit on National Highway 53 from July 9.

The All Zeliangrong Students’ Organisation (AZSO) said in a statement that they would impose the bandh in protest against Manipur government’s recent decision to take over the highway development work from Border Road Organisation (BRO).

Official sources said the Manipur cabinet had decided some days ago to hand over the development and improvement of the road to state public works development after taking it over from BRO.

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The AZSO statement said BRO should handle the development work of the NH 53.

Several civil organisations in statements said that the bandh would inconvenience the people as essential commodities were being transported through this highway.

Transporters and drivers’ council of Manipur had decided not to use NH 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) road because of extortion by Naga militants.

Official sources said people of Manipur had suffered because of the two-month old blockade imposed by some Naga organisations on NH 39 and NH 53 which ended barely two weeks ago. They appealed to the AZSO to call off the bandh.

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