Three vehicles damaged during Pallel-Moreh highway bandh
Organisers of Kondong Lairembi Lai Haraoba calls for relaxation till May 20
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 08 2011:
Suspected bandh supporters today burnt a Maruti van apart from smashing windshields of two DI Tata vehicles following the indefinite bandh on Indo-Myanmar road between Pallel and Moreh called by Leibi village demanding transfer of Chandel DC.
The bandh commenced today.
The bandh gave an impact to the border trade activities in Moreh as almost all kinds of vehicles stayed off the road due to strict imposition of the bandh at various points.
The Maruti van (MN01W-9433) loaded with 15 packets of mango from Moreh was set afire by suspected bandh supporters at Leingangtabi located between Khudengthabi and Moreh today at 4.10 pm, a report received here said.
The vehicle, driven by Md Ali Khan of Kwakta village of Moirang and it belonged to one Mani of the same village.
The vehicle was badly damaged by the fire, the report said.
In the early hours of the day, protestors gathered at Thamnapokpi around 9 am to impose the bandh.
They stopped all kinds of vehicles going towards Moreh and also those coming to Imphal.
Windshields of at least two DI Tata vehicles (MN01W-7619 and MN02A-3537) were smashed for allegedly violating the bandh around 9 am, the reports said.
Over 30 vehicles leaving Moreh for Imphal were reportedly stranded midway at various places fearing attacks by protestors.
Villagers of Leibi imposed the bandh in protest against the government's failure to fulfill their demands which include transfer of Chandel DC, H Deleep.
They alleged him of demarcating the boundary between Leibi and Kwatha without the consent of villagers of the two villages.
They further demanded compensation to the villagers who sustained injuries when security personnel fired several rounds of guns on April 28 to disperse villagers protesting the demarcation.
They claimed at least 12 women were injured in the firing.
Meanwhile, Ima Kondong Lairembi Thougallup, Moreh, has appealed to the bandh callers to relax the bandh till May 20 informing that the form of agitation would give inconveniences to the people coming to attend Kondong Lairembi Haraoba.