Imphal, July 15 2010: The 72-hour Naga area 'chakka bandh' called by All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has ended peacefully at 6 pm on Thursday.

During the bandh in the last three days, no untoward incidents had occurred.

However, the 'chakka bandh' had crippled many activities in the districts of Tamenglong, Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul as no vehicles operated in these districts.

It is worth noting that the Naga students' body had clarified in Senapati two days ago that they are 'not' demanding the Sixth Schedule as reported by some media.

ANSAM said that since the Naga people have decided to sever ties with the government of Manipur, the room for demanding the Sixth Schedule does not arise.

The Naga students' body said that the just concluded three days 'chakka bandh' in the districts of Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel was in protest against the state government of Manipur's move of going ahead with the elections to the District Councils in Manipur hills and for labelling wanted tags on two Naga leaders.

Another reason for the protest had been against the continuing militarisation in the Naga areas by the state government.

"In view of the different views interpreted and presented by media from the statement given prior to the 72-hour chakka bandh, ANSAM reiterated that Naga people have already rejected the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (3rd Amendment) Act 2008, and subsequently declared the ADC elections, which was conducted under this Act, which is declared 'null and void'.

Further, the Naga people under the leadership of United Naga Council (UNC) have made loud and clear that we have severed all ties with the communal government of Manipur.

Therefore, the question of the demand for the Sixth Schedule, as reported in some media, does not arise here.

The background of tribal on 6th Schedule referred in our earlier statement as mentioned was only a reflection of how tribals in Manipur state have been repeatedly suppressed and denied of their inherent rights throughout successive state government during the past many years.

As such, terming the ongoing agitation as a movement of demanding the Sixth Schedule, despite instant clarification, is viewed as an attempt to malign the image of ANSAM thereby diluting and deviate the main issue.

Yet we would rather be steadfast in our commitment to work for alternative arrangement as desired and decided by the Naga people," the Naga students' body clatifies.

The just concluded bandh been launched in protest against the 'ill attitude' of the State government of Manipur by issuing arrest warrant against the Naga leaders with wanted tags on their heads in response to their role of defending and securing the rights of the people, said the ANSAM.

"The protest was also in protest against the continued militarization of Naga areas, in the guise of maintaining law and order, which otherwise are quite peaceful and secured," it added.

The ANSAM then said that imposition of District Council elections and attempting to make District Councils functional in Naga areas against the interest of Naga people had prompted the Naga students to impose the three-day 'chakka bandh' in Naga areas.