Newmai News Network Imphal | January 2 United Naga Council (UNC) president Gaidon Kamei and its information and publicity secretary SK Stephen were produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East on Monday, which remanded them to police custody till January 11. The UNC leaders had been in police custody after they were formally arrested by Tadubi police station in connection with a fresh FIR case taken against them. The key functionaries of the Naga organization have been charged under various sections of the IPC in connection with torching of vehicles during the blockade. Earlier, the UNC leaders were arrested by the police on November 25 after the ongoing indefinite economic blockade chocked highways. The state government accused the Centre of refusing to intervene in the over 60-day long blockade that began from November 1 last. The Centre has deployed a large number of paramilitary personnel along NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam route) to fetch essential goods. UNC and other Naga organisations have been calling for immediate and unconditional release of Gaidon and Stephen. The UNC intensified the blockade after arrest of their two leaders. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has repeatedly assured that the UNC leaders will be released if the blockade is lifted.
