Border town Moreh hit by 48-hour bandh

The border town of Moreh wore a deserted look during the 48 hour bandh imposed on August 21. (NNN Photo)

 

Newmai News Network


Imphal | August 21 


Accusing the Assam Rifles of giving "hindrances" to the movement of the people at Border Gate No 1 in the border town Moreh, civil society organisations protested on Wednesday. Cross border trade activities in Manipur’s border town Moreh was severely affected owing to the protest. 


Moreh town is located near the Indo-Myanmar border, in the Indian side, which is about 100 km from Imphal in the south-east direction.


Wednesday's protest was in support of the 48-hour bandh jointly called by Hill Tribal Council, Kuki Women’s Union and Human Rights, Kuki Students’ Organisation, Moreh Youth Club and All Moreh Traders’ Association which began at 5 am of the day.


Except ransacking a sentry post installed by the Assam Rifles at a public waiting shed near Border Gate No. 1, no untoward incident related with the bandh was reported on the first day of the strike.


Bandh supporters mostly womenfolk engaged in a heated argument with the troops of the 43 Assam Rifles who intervened when the bandh supporters ransacked the temporary bunker. Later, commandant of the 43 Assam Rifles visited the site and took stock of the ransacked temporary bunker.


Talking to reporters, bandh supporters expressed surprise when the security bunker was found erected at the public waiting shed.


They said that the waiting shed was being used by the people for taking a "brief rest after hard work".


During the bandh, almost all shops and other business establishments across the border town remained downed their shutters, showing solidarity to the bandh-call.


Government offices, schools, colleges, banks and other institutes in the border town were also affected by the bandh.


In the afternoon, a large number of bandh supporters came out at various places and imposed the bandh by piling stones, logs and putting fire in the middle of the roads.


The bandh further affected normal vehicular movements along the Imphal-Moreh section of NH-102.