Wokha NH-2: CSOs warn of intensifying protest

WOKHA — The Wokha district civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Wokha Village began its indefinite bandh along the National Highway-2 passing through Wokha district on Thursday, with no incidents reported.

The organisations stated that the bandh will continue until there is immediate logical and practical implementation of works, but cautioned that it would intensify protest, if there is no response from the authorities by 6 pm on Friday.

The organisations which include the Lotha Hoho, Lotha Eloe Hoho, Lotha Students’ Union, Wokha District Village Council Chairmen Association, Joint Action Committee, Wokha Town Colonies’ Chairmen Union, All Commercial Vehicle Association, Wokha, and the Lotha Youth Hoho, stated this in a press communiqué issued on Thursday evening.

It said that the bandh will continue “with the same modalities” till February 9, but if there is no positive response by 6 pm on Friday, the bandh will intensify with “indefinite lockdown of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha, indefinite lockdown of the office of SDO (NH) Wokha, and total of all vehicular movement and closure of all commercial establishments in the district.”

“The following shall remain exempted from the purview of indefinite bandh: police, paramilitary forces, medical services including ambulances and private vehicles carrying patients or dead bodies, fire and emergency services, power department personnel with duty detailment slips from respective controlling authorities, postal services and the press,” the communiqué stated.

In cases of medical emergencies within the district, citizens have been requested to get witness documents from their respective village council authorities or colony council chairmen and produce it before the bandh volunteers to obtain car passes.

Further, it appealed to all the Lotha people and the Nagas in general, to “understand our genuine demand for realising our right to have good roads, and to extend us your kind cooperation and support in our fight for justice.”

The bandh began following repeated appeals and memorandums submitted to the contractors (TTC Infra Pvt. Ltd.), the state National Highway department, and the district administration by the organisations regarding the unsatisfactory work along the NH-2 from 72.400 to 83.00 km.

Citing RTI responses and joint inspections carried out by the JAC and the CSOs, the organisations had, on several occasions, raised concerns about multiple anomalies including land compensation issues, in the road construction project, and appealed the department and construction firm to rectify them. 

Also read: Indefinite bandh on NH-2 in Wokha district from February 8