Claims “moral victory” as Nagaland CM’s motorcade avoids Nagaland gate to enter Assam via Burma Camp
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 17
In the midst of unprecedented security arrangement, the indefinite NH 29 bandh on Nagaland Government vehicles and oil tankers called by the Coordination Committee on Fuel Adulteration (CCoFA) took off on October 17. Despite the government declaring the bandh as illegal, volunteers turned up in strength manning vital entry points into Dimapur and beyond.
The day saw volunteers set up camp at New Field and Dillai inter-state check posts, at Chumukedima, Medziphema and Zubza-Peducha sharing space with police personnel in full riot gear.
By-and-large uneventful, the state Chief Minister’s visit to Assam along with his Cabinet colleagues added buzz to the air. With the main exit points blocked, the CM’s motorcade made a detour to Assam via Burma Camp around 8:00 am for a meeting with his Assam counterpart, Sarbananda Sonowal at Kaziranga.
The CCoFA termed the CM’s move as a “moral victory” for the motive behind the bandh call. “The government has declared the bandh as ‘illegal’ but his action of sneaking out avoiding the highway points to the CM admitting the bandh as legal,” commented a CCoFA member after the initial buzz surrounding the CM’s journey settled. The member concluded the CM’s action “nullified the (government) order at the same time validating the bandh.” The issue, the CCoFA maintained, was one of “morality” that of against corruption in governance.
The CM reportedly made the detour to avoid any unsavoury situation. Later, the buzz was on how the CM would make the return trip. The CM and his entourage returned from Kaziranga-Assam at around 4:30 pm with the police clearing the New Field check post of volunteers. The volunteers regrouped later only to be pushed back and dispersed at around 7:00 pm.
CCoFA had asserted that its volunteers would go to the extent of courting arrest if the government did not fulfil their demands. The unfamiliarity with prolonged peaceful movements also came into picture to which a bandh volunteer at Chumukedima replied, “We’ll be able to sustain. We have made the required arrangement for the long haul.”
Bandh supporters at Medziphema made a similar stance with the Medziphema Town Public Organisation and the Medziphema Town Youth Organisation standing by the CCoFA’s declared motive behind the bandh.
A security personnel who was on duty commented on conditions of anonymity, “As the police, we have to abide by government protocol… we have to abide orders. Yet as a civilian, I’d be lying if I said I don’t support a movement against corruption. From a moral standpoint I’d want the government to be a little more understanding.”
If the CCoFA is unhappy with the SIT, it could have approached the court for redress by filing a PIL instead of confronting the government, the personnel also reasoned.
Government vehicles (NL-10), except of the police and the district administration, largely remained off the road. A few, however, were seen on the route along Purana Bazaar and Chumukedima. Earlier in the morning, volunteers at Chumukedima informed that some Nagaland government vehicles with number plates removed were stopped and asked to turn back.
With daytime entry of transport trucks into town already restricted, trouble was anticipated in the evening when the coast is normally cleared for heavy vehicles to move in. The evening passed off without major incidents, except for a brief standoff at the New Field check post after the CM’s motorcade passed through.
It was informed at the check post that there was no scheduled entry of oil tankers into town for the night.
‘Will no longer guarantee that the next protest will be peaceful’
In a press statement, CCoFA questioned why the Cabinet was so eager to resort to lathi-charge against its own people who are simply protesting against the rampant corruption in the state. “The Cabinet is reminded that it cannot arbitrarily declare a peace protest by the people as illegal based on their own whims and fancy,” the press statement from media cell, CCoFA reminded.
It also alleged that extreme force was used against YAN volunteers who did not retaliate since they were bound by the non-violent policy, which the CCoFA strictly enforced upon the volunteers.
CCoFA has cautioned the State Government that in the event of such high handedness on the part of police, the “next phase of total indefinite bandh will start and CCoFA will no longer guarantee that the protest will be peaceful.” It has appealed all concern citizens to show solidarity by assembling at Chumukedima Patkai Bridge at 6 am onwards
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