Imphal, Jul 18: Even as the Assam Rifles authority expressed its regret over the stand off with the media following the July 15 incident, the indefinite Moreh bandh has been called off from today after the Govt and AR authority gave a standing assurance that the demands raised by the All Moreh Apunba Meira Paibi Lup will be acceded to.

The meira paibis decided to call off the bandh following a meeting between the All Moreh Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, All Community Welfare Forum and Chandel MLA DK Korunthang, MLA K Bijoy and officers of Ar including the CO of 24 Ar Col V Saini and ADIG of 26 Sector AR Col Kumarswami.

DIG C Doungel, SP of Chandel and ADC were also present at the meeting.

Earlier, the Assam Rifles authority expressed its regret over the stand off between its personnel and Moreh based correspondents during the July 15 incident during a meeting with representatives of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union at Moreh today.

The AR authority assured that no efforts will be spared to ensure that such misunderstanding does not crop up in the future.

Moreh based correspondents made it very clear that they were disturbed by the harsh language used by the AR men against them on July 15.They also stated that barring them from covering the incident was hard to digest and urged the Assam Rifles authority to ensure that such unpleasant conduct is not repeated in the future.

The AMWJU representatives also conveyed to the AR officers that insulting media men in front of others while they were discharging their duties is a smear on democracy.

The unparliamentary language used against the correspondents amounted to making a mockery of democracy.

The AR officers were led by Col Kumarswami, ADIG.

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