Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 28
An overcast sky aptly summed up the mood in Dimapur today – gloomy and uncertain. Deserted streets, downed shutters, the occasional drone of police vehicles and cars bearing stickers of bandh supporters, passengers stranded at the airport and the railway station marked the first day of the bandh called by the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) in Dimapur.
While most denizens preferred to stay indoors in the vicinity of areas manned by bandh volunteers, pedestrians walked without hassle on unmanned streets. Small shops well within colonies and far from the watchful eyes of volunteers opened.
The day passed off without any major untoward incidents reported save an episode at the Dimapur Government College late morning. Volunteers alerted of a poll related training to be conducted at the college premises during the day barricaded the entrance. The incident, which occurred around 10:00 am, saw trainees prevented from entering the premises and asked to turn back.
Volunteers manned the major intersections of the town, strewing their zones with boulders and burning tyres across streets.
Similar cases were spotted at the NH 29 stretch from Purana Bazar till Chumukedima. Except for occasional sightings of ambulances, police and para-military vehicles and some vehicles bearing small black flags indicating funeral duties, vehicular movement was nil.
Commuters taking the chance to take out vehicles were stopped and asked to turn back while some unfortunate few were forced to face unsympathetic remarks before being turned away. Media persons covering the day’s happenings were also at the receiving end of unsavoury remarks.
All signs of the State and governance either disappeared or police remained in hidden corners observing the events.
The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) today lauded the conduct of “all parties concern(ed)” for completing the bandh’s first day. The Council, in a press statement expressed optimism that there will be more “participation” from the public in the remaining days of the bandh.
Kohima: No more bandh until further notice
The 9:00 am to 4:00 pm bandh in Kohima called by the Angami Youth Organization (AYO) was without incident. Business establishments downed shutters, while pedestrian and vehicular movements restricted. The AYO, in a press release, stated that there will be no further bandh under Kohima Municipal Council, Medziphema Town Council and Chumukedima Town Council areas until further notice. It however added that bandh in Medziphema and Chumukedima “could be necessitated depending on the developments” in Dimapur.
Bandh at Phek
In Phek, the bandh called by the Chakhesang Youth Front from 9:00 am to 4:00 am went off with no untoward incident reported with the town was completely shutdown. It was also observed in Pfutsero, Chozuba and Chetheba.
Mokokchung bandh passes, to resume from January 31 onwards
The ‘total bandh’ imposed by Ao Senden in Mokokchung district today passed without any untoward events. The Ao Senden informed that there will be no bandh in Mokokchung on January 30 and 31 with the bandh will resume indefinitely from January 31.
Kiphire bandh
In Kiphire, bandh was enforced by the Kiphire District Joint Coordination Committee (KDJCC), comprising United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji, Tikhir Tribal Council and Kiphire District GB’s Association. Bandh volunteers reportedly halted state government assigned Booth Level Officers from distributing voter slips.
