Zeliangrong students decry Assam Rifles

Dimapur, April 19 (MExN): The All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (AMN) have upped its tirade against the Assam Rifles for propaganda and high-handedness. The union issued a note today decrying the Assam Rifles   as well as lauding the people for a bandh recently in the Zeliangrong areas.
The ZSU said that the AR “claimed that government offices, vehicles, shops, and business establishments were running as usual. However, the NH-53 from Imphal to Jiribam, IT. Road, KT. Road had deserted look. How the AR claimed that all offices, institutions, roads, were running as usual when all remained closed,” the union stated in its note. ‘In the midst of its attempts to garner support from Zeliangrong public, it has taken the help of a handful of unknown social organizations like, ZU, ZWU, ZYF etc to sabotage the bandh. However, the 11 AR has failed utterly to hoodwink the Zeliangrong public and it came out a flop show in front of the public.’
To cover up ‘his high handedness and fear of negative remarks in his career’ Col. Chonkar and the 11 AR blamed NSCN/GPRN for instigating the 48-hour total bandh, the ZSU stated. “There is no an iota of truth in his allegation. He has been frantically blaming everybody out of frustration.”
The ZSU said the Zeliangrong community contributed greatly to the Indian freedom movement and the Naga “nationalist movement”. The union said ‘Haipou Jadonang had revolted against the British colonial rulers for which he was implicated and hanged in 1931; Rani Gaidinliu was imprisoned for life in 1932 and she was released from British jail in Sylhet in 1947.’
“And Jawaharlal Nehru the first Premier of India gave her the title Rani’. GoI had awarded her awards like Padma Bhibusan, Tamra Patra, awards, etc. and she was given many other awards as a veteran freedom fighter.” The organization stated. “The Zeliangrong people will not go by the dictat of a mere colonel of Indian Army in the person of Col. Chonkar. He cannot challenge the integrity and unity of the zeliangrong people,” the students’ organization stated.
The union has expressed gratitude to civil organizations and individuals who made the 48-hours bandh a success in all Zeliangrong areas of Manipur. The union said that the “massive support of the Zeliangrong public and sympathizers to the 48-hour total bandh is a clear indication of public protest against the Armed Forces Special (Powers) Acts 1958 and high handedness of the security forces under the ambit of this draconian act.” All the propaganda of the 11 AR and security forces to cover up their past misdeeds and high-handedness “was vindicated” by the public, the ZSU said.
The union appeals to the public to extend their support “until and unless our charter of demands is fulfilled and as and when bandh or agitation is launched in any issue of public interest by this organization.”