Naga Council calls Manipur bandh on Sunday

GUWAHATI: The apex body of Nagas in Manipur, the United Naga Council ( UNC), has announced a 12-hour shut down in ‘Naga territories’ in Manipur on June 18 in support of the Indo-Naga peace process.

June 18, 2001, had seen large-scale violence that resulted in 18 deaths, after the Vajpayee government extended the ceasefire with NSCN-IM beyond territorial limits.

The United Committee, Manipur and the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (Amuco) observe ‘Great June Uprising’ and ‘Unity Day’ on June 18 every year thereafter.

UNC general secretary S Milan told ET “the move is to press for taking the ‘historic framework agreement signed on August 3, 2015, in New Delhi to its logical conclusion at the earliest”.

UNC in a statement added Nagas have been defending their land against any forces attempting to intrude and decide upon them without consulting the Naga people since time immemorial. It is the obligation of every generation to uphold this position while adding that UNC has decided to call the bandh “as our land, identity, history, tradition, culture are not secured under the present political system.”