Security forces-public face off in Tangkhul Long ground

Newmai News Network
UKHRUL, JULY 30

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ECURITY force personnel stationed in Ukhrul town and public had a hard time today with the former shielding the Tangkhul Long Ground when the people attempted to enter the ground for a prayer programme.
The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex civil body of Tangkhul community, organised a prayer programme for honourable solution of the Indo-Naga issue, for the collective leaders of the NSCN and the government of India and for peace in ‘our land’ today.
The programme was scheduled to begin at 10 am but the large number of security force personnel present in the town shielded the Tangkhul Long Ground to prevent the mass prayer programme. Section 144 of the CrPC is in force in the town and the gathering of large number of people will violate the prohibition.
At around 11:30 am, after much persuasion, around 100 people, including church and public leaders, were allowed to enter the ground to hold the programme.“We are for peace so we do not like to create trouble,” said Artax Shimray, president of TNL. He also said since it was a prayer programme the people just obliged to the security force personnel’s request.
Leaders of United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union and various civil society organisations took part in the programme today.
Artax Shimray said if their demands are not met in a short period then they will intensify their agitation. Their demands include revocation of Section 144 of the CrPC, withdrawal of the large number of state forces from Ukhrul town, release of the 8 NSCN-IM cadres arrested from the office of Wung Tangkhul Region (WTR) and the return of the seized items from the WTR office by the state government of Manipur.