Newmai News Netywork Imphal | November 26 Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today informed that legal proceedings were underway against the two arrested United Naga Council (UNC) leaders. The two were arrested by the police yesterday in connection with the ongoing indefinite economic blockade along the two National Highways linking Manipur with rest of the country. “All functionaries of UNC and its associated organisations involved in the blockade call will also have to face legal action,” Chief Minister Ibobi further told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Kangla Fort here on Saturday. Ibobi made it clear that action will be taken against UNC president Gaidon Kamei and information secretary Sankhui Stephen and other leaders responsible for the protracted blockade that started from November 1 on Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway in protest against the government’s plan to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged revenue districts. UNC maintains that no “Naga territory” should be carved in the district formation process. Kamei, 52, and Stephen, 36, were arrested by a team of police commandos from Imphal West at Pheidinga along Imphal-Dimapur highway yesterday. They are now in the custody of Imphal Police Station following their arrest. Protesting the detention of its leaders, UNC enforced a total shutdown in the Naga-dominated area of Manipur from 4:30 pm of Friday till 4:30 pm Saturday. On Friday, Manipur High Court gave a directive to the state government to take steps to end the indefinite blockade called by the United Naga Council (UNC) along the two National Highways linking Manipur, besides providing adequate security forces to ensure free flow of traffic on the highways for transhipment of essential goods. The order came in the wake of a PIL filed by one Rajkumar Joysana Singh of Manipur in the High Court of Manipur. Earlier, Joysana also filed the same PIL in this court against the economic blockade called by UNC. The court also enquired about the action taken up by the state government with regard to the blockade that started from November 1. The defence lawyer told the court that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had a telephonic talk with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh over the ongoing blockade on November 9 and he again wrote a letter to Rajnath seeking assistance on November 11. Ibobi also met the Union Home Minister over the issue in New Delhi on November 19. The Manipur High Court in its directive asked the Chief Secretary and DGP to take immediate steps to bring an end to the protracted blockade and ensure free flow of traffic along Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway. The Centre, if desirable, should provide assistance to the state government to handle the enforcement of blockade, according to the directive. It also asked the Manipur government to take immediate steps to bring back all loaded trucks numbering about 100 now stranded at Mao of Senapati district due to the stir. Convoy should be plied every day along both the highways, the directive said, adding that stern action should be taken against those who are resorting to economic blockade along highways. The Manipur High Court’s directive further said that on receiving of requisition of Central assistance, the Government of India should immediately prepare for using Central security personnel. The next hearing in the case will take place on December 1.
