Volunteers seen manning a portion of Noklak town during the ‘Dawn to Dusk’ total bandh called by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization on Friday.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 8
The ‘dawn to dusk’ total bandh called by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organization (ENPO) in the six districts of Eastern Nagaland- Tuensang, Mon, Khipire, Shamator, Noklak and Longleng passed without any untoward incidents.
In all the district headquarters and sub-divisions, the picture was that of desolation on Friday as citizens, heeding to the call remained indoors except for CSO officials volunteers tasked to monitor the bandh. Business establishment, government offices, educational institutions all remained shut.
The bandh enforcers put up banners at gates of government administrative offices and in strategic location which read, “Eastern Nagaland total bandh against the delay to settle the Government of India’s offer for creation of FNT through the MHA.”
In Tuensang town, leaders of ENPO frontal organizations assembled as directed while the Chang Khulei Setshang and Chang Wedoshi Setshang monitored the bandh which passed off peacefully. The Phom Peoples’ Council, Konyak Union Mon, Yimkhiung Tribal Council, United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji, Khiamniungan Tribal Council and their federating units and student bodies supervised the bandh in the rest of the districts of Eastern Nagaland.
Meanwhile, a notification from the ENPO camp, Tuensang on Friday evening informed that shut down of government offices and restriction on movement of government vehicles (state and central) during the ongoing ‘Public Emergency’ in Eastern Nagaland region would continue.
However, restriction of public movement, private vehicles and closing down of business establishments were relaxed till further notice.
It also cautioned that any private vehicle found plying on government duty other than transporting essential commodities shall be seized. Any government offices found functioning in official/private residence shall be dealt seriously.
The public emergency was declared on March 5 by the ENPO in protest against the delay of the Government of India to settle the offer for creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT).
This decision to declare a Public Emergency was made during a joint co-ordination meeting held at Hotel Cedar, Dimapur on March 5 with the tribal bodies and frontal organizations of Eastern Nagaland which comprises of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Noklak, Shamator and Kiphire districts.
“In view of the Govt. of India delaying to settle the offer for creation of Frontier Nagaland Territory through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Tribal Bodies and Frontal Organizations hereby declare Public Emergency all over Eastern Nagaland with immediate effect,” the meeting resolution had stated.
The meeting also declared to strictly implement the February 23, 2024 Chenmoho resolution, “not to participate in any central and state election.” This resolution was reached during the joint consultative meeting of the ENPO, federating tribal bodies, frontal organizations, talk team and senior leaders at Chenmoho village, Mon district.
It also emphasized that the “people of Eastern Nagaland shall not accede to any assurance that may come up with by the MHA to be implemented after the upcoming Parliamentary election process.”
As the next phase of public protest, there will be a dawn to dusk ban all over Eastern Nagaland on March 8-to be followed by intensive protest, it had announced.
