Imphal, September 11: The meeting organized by the United Committee of Manipur regarding the cases of torture, looting, molestation and rape on national highway 39 today resolved to support the earlier stand taken by the UCM to boycott the national highway no 39 at Nagaland.

It also resolved to constitute a task force to develop national highway no 53.Representatives of various organizations attended the meeting held at GM hall.

The two resolutions were passed after a marathon discussion for about five hours.

The President of UCM Sapamcha Jadumani said the decision to boycott the national highway no 39 at Nagaland was taken as the people of Manipur can not tolerate the continuing harassment of people and more recently the barbaric act of some miscreants committed on innocent girls at Piphema on the morning of September 5.M Paomei President of ZCUM said we should not let others think that they can do whatever they want.

We should fight back so that we can live with dignity.

P Gangte President Kuki Inpi said we should develop the national highway no 53 so that people can move freely on this road.

RK Ronendrajit stressed the need of immediately taking up steps to broaden the highway to enable big vehicles move on the highway.

H Kula Convenor of the Research and Documentation Cell, UCM said the hospitality one shows at their home indicates about the culture and civilization of the people.

The people of Manipur have been harassed, looted by various groups operating in Nagaland he observed.

As per Article 3 of the Ground rule between the government of India and the NSCN(IM), the NSCNM(IM) cadres can carry their arms and ammunitions freely.

This enables the members of the outfit to carry out the various activities it commit on the national highway he observed.

This article needs to be reconsidered.

In any case militants should not be allowed to move around with arms he said.

Kom, General Secretary of the Rickshaw Drivers' Association said there are about 30,000 rickshaw drivers in the state.

Each of them decided to work for two days to improve the condition of the highway.

Dilip, Gen Secy of UCM said as the leaders travel by flight they do not know how people suffer while traveling on this road.

Some NSCN(IM) cadres stopped a vehicle which was bringing a dead body he said.

They pulled down the dead body and drove the car and gave it back when it was not running any more.

There are many other instances when passengers are harassed.

This is going too far he observed.

Large number of women's organizations also attended the meeting and their representatives spoke during the meeting.

Dr Ibetombi said if the Nagaland police had immediately taken up steps when the passengers complained to the police then actions as per law could have been immediately taken up.

Nalini of Chingmee Tamee Organization proposed that September 5 should be observed as Women's Rights Protection Day every year.

A representative of the JAC Transporters Orgn H Somorendro said there are some trucks stranded at Nagaland.

The UCM should have given some time so that they could come out.

He appealed to UCM to relax the boycott for some time so that the vehicles can come out.

We should thank the Nagaland government for arresting some of those involved in the incident.

This is the first time that Nagaland government has taken some actions.

The Nagaland Police had always been insensitive to the complaints of the passengers.

Some complained that the Nagaland police and NSCN(IM) always extort money from the passengers at Nagaland.

The NSCN(IM) takes a huge amount of money from all the passenger buses and trucks.

If they do not pay what they demand they will take away the vehicles and many cases the drivers were also taken away.

Representatives from various organizations gave their opinion on the matter.

The speakers pointed out that it would take a long time to improve national highway no 53 as most of the bridges are not in good conditions.

Some observed that movement of vehicles should be allowed for some time to move at Nagaland while the NH 53 is developed.

Some passenger buses have already started operating on national highway no 53.It takes 30 to 36 hours to reach Guwahati via Silchar while one takes 17 to 24 hours on national highway no 39.The cental government has indicated that it is ready to take up developmental works on the highway.

About Rs one crore will be required for every kilometre to convert national highway 53 to double lane.