Lamka, Sep 16: The 48 hours bandh called by COPTAM on the first day was total here, as volunteers burnt used tyres on many of the important road cro-ssings within the town-ship amidst tight security set up at all sensitive locations where public outrage have been reported earlier.
Except for the occasional movement of security personnel and bandh volunteers in vehicles, and kids frolicking along the streets, the district headquarters wore a deserted look even in the remote villages.
Reiterating their demand, COPTAM leaders told media persons their intention to intensify the bandh tomorrow.
‘This (the bandh) is just the beginning of our agitation and if anyone takes our agitation for granted they will see the true impact of our angst tomorrow as we intensify the bandh,’ they said.
Sources said a handful of motor keys were confiscated by the volunteers while they also damaged a couple of two wheelers in and around the town.
Passenger buses and taxis plying outside the state capital suspended their service. Business establishments and ducational institutions in some districts were affected due to the bandh. The bandh started since Wednesday midnight. However, no untoward incidents were reported.
The COPTAM has been demanding the restoration of original hill district boundaries, transfering of Land Records of the hill districts to the recently formed Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and devolution of adequate powers to ADCs.
Meanwhile, the Tangkhul Co-ordination Committee (TCC) had said yesterday that it would not support the COPTAM bandh. TCC said it would go by the directives of the United Naga Council (UNC) which had declared the severance of poltical ties with Manipur government saying the ADCs and the Naga organisations have nothing to do.
~ The Sangai Express
