IMPHAL: A 12-hour Ukhrul district bandh ended peacefully at 5 pm on Saturday.
All the normal activities including vehicular movements, business establishments, educational institutions, offices and other normal chores were severely affected due to the bandh.
The Ukhrul district headquarters looked deserted during the bandh hours. Several organisations have imposed the 12-hour bandh demanding the unconditional release of NSCN-IM leader Anthony Shimray (Ningkhan) from Tihar Jail.
The NSCN-IM functionary is reportedly the outfit’s ‘foreign affairs’ head arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Kathmandu International Airport on September 27, 2010.
According to a joint press communique of Tangkhul organisations, Anthony Shimray was “kidnapped” by the NIA while he was on his way to New Delhi to participate in the peace talk between the government of India and the Naga outfit.
“We the Tangkhul frontal organisations while appealing for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ningkhan Anthony Shimray who is the head of the Foreign Affairs of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), have called for a 12 hour bandh within Ukhrul. A prayer request has also been made in all the churches in Ukhrul to pray for his release,” the four Tangkhul bodies said.
The joint statement of these Tangkhul organisations said that Anthony Shimray had actively participated in at least seven rounds of peace talk with the Government of India.
“He was kidnapped while he was on his way to Delhi to attend the Indo-Naga peace talk in Kathmandu International Airport on 27 September, 2010 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), as it has been revealed. He is presently lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi and undergoing trial in Patiala Court. On 4 January, 2012 his bail was rejected by the court by opening up old cases from 1982. The National Investigating Agency (NIA) Special Court has fixed the dates for a speedy trial from 10th to 13th February, 2012. He is on a hunger strike to protest against his continued detention,” the Tangkhul bodies claimed.
These organisations then lamented that they are deeply concerned that he was arrested during the ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN defying the agreement. (NNN)