Manipur Naga Students' Association suspends economic blockade temporarily

The All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) has temporaily suspended its ongoing economic blockade along the National Highway 102 with immediate effect on Thursday.

"In view of the dire hardship faced by the general public in the midst of ongoing conflict and following the assurance committed by the Convener, Naga Legislator Forum, Mr. Awangbow Newmai, Hon'ble Minister, on behalf of the government to fulfill the two legitimate demands of ANSAM, the Emergency Meeting of ANSAM, Executive Council, Units of ANSAM and Representative of Naga Legislature Forum which was held at Shelley Chara Memorial Hall, ANSAM Secretariat, Tahamzam (Senapati) on 9th November 2023 has been resolved to temporarily suspend the ongoing economic blockade being called by the association," ANSAM said in a press communique today.

Acknowledging the process of restoring mobile internet with partial opening of the same in some parts of the District headquarters and while appreciating the difficulty of government, ANSAM made it very clear that government should take prompt action for opening of mobile internet in all the areas in the state not affected by the violence including the interior villages and provide permanent and uninterrupted services as assured by Minister and the pending result of Assistant professor (145+45 ST Special Drive) be declared promptly as per the assurance.

It said the ongoing agitation shall be resumed anytime in the event of failing to implement the agreements of Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on 26th Oct, 2023 between govt. of Manipur and ANSAM in the presence of the Chief Minister of Manipur.

The association also expressed its strong condemnation against Major Deepak Kataria of 16 Assam Riffle, Hengbung, for his heinous act of intimidating to the ANSAM volunteers at T. Khullen while enforcing the aforementioned agitation.

"Such hostile attitude and high handedness of the Assam Riffles towards the student community is highly questionable and uncalled for. The notoriety of Assam Riffle surfacing again at this juncture is unfortunate and a matter of great concern," ANSAM said.

The association cautioned the rank and file of Assam Riffle not to repeat such act in the coming days to usher in peace in Naga areas.