UNC bandh turns violent, six injured in clashes with police
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, November 04 2011: Two Tata Sumos, one 407 truck were set ablaze by UNC supporters and at least six persons were injured in the police action as the UNC enforced 72 hour total bandh in Naga areas turned violent today.

Contrary to the appeal of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to the UNC for lifting its counter blockade on National Highways and 72-hour total bandh in Naga inhabited areas, UNC supporters set aflame two Tata Sumos carrying betel leaves at a spot in between Awangkhul and Langkhong and a 407 Tata truck of the police at Noney Bazar.

In the police action of dispersing UNC supporters who were enforcing counter blockade/bandh at Noney Bazar, at least six people reportedly sustained injuries.

Two more civil vehicles and one water tanker of BRTF also suffered damaged in the attack by bandh supporters.

According to information culled from the site of the incident, two Imphal-bound Tata Sumos (MN04A/3235 and MN06N/2669) loaded with betel leaves from Jiribam were coming along National Highway 37 with a bus in the front.

After the bus had crossed Noney Bazar, the two ill-fated Tata Sumos which were about to cross Noney Bazar were stopped by five suspected UNC supporters at around 1.30 am today.

The 407 truck of Noney Police Outpost which was burnt by UNC supporters

The drivers of the Tata Sumos recalled that out of the five suspected UNC supporters, two of them have pistols and who forced them to drive back towards Awangkhul.

On the way, the two Tata Sumos were made to stop near a community hall and took the drivers inside.

From there, the suspected UNC supporters drove the two Tata Sumos further ahead while assuring to the drivers that nothing would happen to their vehicles and same would be handed over after the bandh is over.

However, the two Tata Sumos were found to have been set on fire at a spot in between Awangkhul and Langkhong, around 9 kms from Noney, at around 5.30 am today.

On receiving the report, a reinforcement of personnel from Noney Police Output and other security forces were send out but they could not located the site.

Meanwhile, a large team of police commandos led by DSP Krishnatombi were coming from Imphal in 20 vehicles to receive the escort party of Chief Minister arriving from Tamenglong.

When the team reached Noney Bazar at around 10.30 am, UNC supporters were found enforcing bandh burning of tyres and erecting barricades along the road.

The wind shields of some of the vehicles of the commando team also suffered damaged when bandh supporters pelted stones, compelling the commandos to open fire tear gas canisters and mock bombs to disperse the bandh supporters.

The commandos also resorted to blank fire in an attempt to scare away the bandh supporters.

At least six persons reportedly sustained injuries in the police action of lathi-charge.

They have been identified as Lungkugai (60) of Longmai Bazar, Ashanglu Liangmei (60) also from Longmai Bazar, Guddi Gomei (58) of Longmai Part-IV, Philip Kamei (53) of Longmai Bazar, Lungkurai (28) of Longmai village and Guidinmei Kamei (25) of Lukhambi.

Infuriated over the police action, the bandh supporters set on fire a 407 Tata truck belonging to the Noney Police Outpost at around noon.

Bandh supporters also inflated the frontal tyres of a water tanker (06ZE/68738) belonging to BRTF in the middle of the road.

One Tata Sumo on passenger service between Noney and Tamenglong was abandoned by its driver when the police commandos started opening fire.

The windshield of the said Tata Sumos also suffered damage in the ensuing melee.

People of the area, on the other hand, alleged that the police commandos started live firing, tear gas canisters and mock bombs without any provocation.

A public meeting was held at Noney minutes after the incident which the agitators termed as a direct assault at the Naga people.

They said the police resorted to lathi charge and fired more than a thousand rounds of tear gas shells, including live rounds and added that around 30 empty cases of sophisticated weapons were found, according to sources.

They also alleged five houses nearby were damaged in the firing besides four stationery vehicles were also hit by bullets.

The agitation, which started from last midnight, was launched by ANSAM and UNC barely four days after a MoU was signed between the State government and Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) which suspended its 92-day- long economic blockade stir on October 31 .

The furore over the agreement is largely because of the apprehension that the government is likely to concede the demand for Sadar Hills district formation.

The Naga organisations are stoutly opposing the move, saying Naga areas in Sadar Hills should not be curved out to create Sadar Hills district.