Newmai News Network
Imphal | November 5
Normal vehicular movement along the Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37 was disrupted on Friday owing to a 24-hour highway bandh. Plying of all kinds of vehicles was suspended owing to the bandh call given by ‘Affected Land Owners Committee, Noney.’
Reports said that owing to the bandh which commenced at midnight, hundreds of vehicles coming from outside the state and leaving Imphal for Jiribam were stranded midway. Bandh supporters came out on the road and imposed the bandh and prevented movement of all kinds of vehicles, the reports also said.
While enforcing the bandh, protestors displayed banners seeking “fair compensation.” They demanded re-assessment of land acquisition and compensation at Longmai and Khumji Bazar along the NH-37. The committee imposed the bandh alleging negligence on the part of the state government over the land acquisition and compensation for widening works of NH-37 in Noney area.
Bandh supporters reportedly blocked the road by piling logs on the road. At some places they burnt debris on the road in their bid to prevent vehicles from violating the bandh, reports stated.
No untoward incident related to the bandh was reported till the time of filing this report.
The committee, in a press release, lamented that it had submitted a series of representations to the concerned authority for "correction of errors" in the land acquisition processes and payment of compensation to the affected land owners.
It also alleged that the former Deputy Commissioner of Noney was interfering in official matters including in the payment of compensations. The committee warned that if no positive response came forth despite the 24-hour bandh, it would be compelled to take up different forms of agitation including sealing of the deputy commissioner's office, ban of NHIDCL in NH-37, etc.
