DIMAPUR:
The pressure group Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), on March 28, refused to withdraw the ongoing blockade of the NH-2 along the Nagaland-Manipur border staged demanding the withdrawal of Manipur armed personnel stationed at the disputed Kezoltsa area. The blockade entered the eighth day, on March 28.
Speaking to The Meghalayan on Monday, SAYO president, Metekhrielie Mejura informed that the blockade will not be lifted until the Manipur government withdraws its forces.
Initially, the SAYO had called the blockade for 72 hours, however, it was later extended for an indefinite period from the midnight of March 23.
Young volunteers were seen imposing the blockade at two points on the highway – Kigwema village and Zero Point under Sakhabama.
Following the blockade, the Manipur government re-routed stranded Manipur-bound vehicles, including petroleum product carriers, towards NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) bordering Assam with security escorts.
Asked whether the Nagaland government gave any assurance to resolve the issue, the youth body president said that the state government requested them to withdraw the blockade and asked to submit documents relating to the land in question that has become the bone of contention between the SAYO and the Manipur government.
He further informed that the SAYO had submitted the required papers but there is no response from the Nagaland government so far.
Mejura also called the indefinite counter-blockade imposed by the All Assam Manipuri Youths Association (AAMYA) on the Assam side of NH-39 against Nagaland since March 27 midnight, uncalled for.
“There’s no logic in imposing counter-blockade when the AAMYA said there is always a better way to resolve the issue,” he said.
Earlier on March 26, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh had said in the state Assembly that the police structure was constructed around 100 meters inside Manipur territory from the disputed inter-state border. Claiming that the area is purely within Manipur territory, Singh said it is clearly seen in the internationally recognised satellite map.
The minister also said the blockade called by the SAYO is not a dispute between the two state governments and that they will try to resolve it at the state-level and if not than the Centre would intervene.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Medical Dealers Association (NMDA) has appealed to SAYO to allow transportation of essential live-saving medicines to Manipur on humanitarian grounds.
NMDA joint secretary Arijit Sharma, in a release, said that following the blockade along NH-2, the lifeline of Manipur, has halted all vehicular movement and supply of medicines, creating panic among the people of Manipur.
The SAYO will sit with the apex organisations of Angami Naga Naga tribe – Angami Public Organisation and Angami Youth Organisation – in Kohima on March 29 to decide on its future course of action.