Response to NSCN (I-M) bandh call

Photo: In Dimapur, busy Nyamo Lotha road wears a deserted look; In Kohima, Kiphire and Tuensang where business remain standstill on January 17,2012 (Tuesday)

Nagaland saw a peaceful and near total shutdown of shops and business establishments following the 12-hour lighting “shutters down” call by the  NSCN (I-M) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. across “Nagalim” in protest against the conditions imposed on the visit of Isak and Muivah planned for January 13-15 to Zunheboto. 


In Dimapur, the bandh passed off peacefully. S.P. Dimapur,  Z Mero, revealed that he came to know of the 12-hour bandh only through the media.  Security forces were seen frisking of motorists in certain pockets of the town.  

Vehicles plied normally though attendance in offices were thin.Hospitals and  pharmacies remained open though banks also closed down at around 1 .m. in Dimapur as there were hardly any customers. Police sources said there was no report of any untoward incident in Dimapur and around the state.

KOHIMA: Kohima wore a deserted look on Tuesday with all shops closed in response to the 12-hour  “shutters down” call though no untoward incident was reported. 
 
ZUNHEBOTO, MOKOKCHUNG & KIPHIRE: Shops and business establishments in the three districts remain closed   from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bandh  passed off peacefully. 

TUENSANG: Reports coming in from Tuensang said that NSCN (I-M) “regional authority”  expressed gratitude to the business community in the district and the general public for their “co-operation towards the success of the bandh”. 

WOKHA: NSCN (I-M), Kyong region, in a press release issued by K. Chenio Kyong. “CAO” has also expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to civil administration, NGOs, students, public leaders, Hohos, business establishments and general public for observing the bandh at Wokha town.

MON: Life remained normal at Mon district headquarters and the bandh failed to evoke much response. However, there were reports that shops and business establishments in Tizit and Naginimora towns, under Mon district remained closed.

PHEK/MELURI: In Phek district headquarters, the bandh evoked no response as shops remained open and life was normal. However, in Meluri town offices were open but business establishments remained shut. The bandh passed off peacefully, reports reaching here said.


People flock at Lahorijan for refuel, buying essentials. 
Business in Lahorijan, at nearby Karbi Anglong, thrived as scores of people from Dimapur drove to the hamlet for buying food and other items. A few hundred vehicles also rushed to Lahorijan and Khatkhati to buy fuel since all pumps closed down in Dimapur. 

In Dimapur, the bandh, closure of business meant loss of several crore rupees in transactions. One vegetable dealer, expressed fears that fresh stocks would perish by evening.  Some even took empty bottles for filling them with petrol. 

Assam Police personnel were also around as security precaution. The manager of a petrol pump told this reporter that he estimated over one hundred vehicles queuing up to buy fuel. He said the number was more than double than on other days.  

MANIPUR: Normal life was partially affected Tuesday in Naga inhabited areas of Manipur following the 12-hour bandh called by NSCN (I-M) across “Nagalim”. 
Due to the bandh, shops and other establishments including government and private institutions setups remained close for the day in Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel. 

However, vehicles were seen moving as usual, reports received from these four Naga majority districts said. No untoward incident related with the bandh was reported from any part of the state during the bandh hour.