Imphal: Villagers lead indefinite bandh, protest 'denial of free movement'

An indefinite bandh along the Imphal-Moreh Road called by the villagers of Tengnoupal, Chandel district, in protest against the denial of free movement, affected normal life here.

The people of Tengnoupal and its surrounding villages saw large number of women blocking the Imphal-Moreh section of NH-102 at Tengnoupal on Saturday.

"Since the past many years, this highway has been the lifeline of Manipur and since Moreh being the commercial capital of Manipur, there has been heavy flow of vehicles and visitors. However, since the 24 Assam Rifles has been posted here, they have been sealing the ways to the village," said Benjamin, vice president of Trinamool Congress, Manipur and a resident of Tengnoupal village.

"Villagers as well as the vehicles have been facing a lot of discrimination as well as unnecessary tortures by the Assam Rifles. The genuine demand is to shift the Assam Rifles immediately," he added.

The protesters set tyres ablaze in the middle of the road and chanted against the Assam Rifles and held posters carrying 'Down to Assam rifles' and 'We are not terrorists' slogans.

They also prevented vehicles and Army personnel from crossing the protest area during the bandh.