Bandh affects life in Manipur hills

Hill-based United Naga Council (UNC)-sponsored 48-hour-bandh at Naga areas of Manipur has affected normal life and movement of vehicles on the national highway.
The bandh, which began from midnight last to press for a "separate administrative set up" for the Nagas, hit normal life as all passenger buses and trucks, carrying essentials, remained stranded on the national highway 39 and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar national highway 53.
Markets, shops and business establishments in parts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong district areas remained closed, while transport services between the state capital and headquarters of hill districts except Churachandpur district were cancelled, official sources said.

UNC sources said the decision to call bandh was taken on August 5 during a meeting of their leaders and that the council was also likely to boycott the Independence Day celebrations if a meeting was not called by the authorities to discuss their demand.
Sources said the council would also prevent implementation of national projects being taken up at Naga areas if their demand was not considered.
In another development, the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) announced a separate 48-hour bandh at Kuki settled areas of Manipur hills to press its demand for creation of a 'Kukiland' to be carved out of Manipur.

The bandh would begin from midnight of August 13- the time UNC-sponsored bandh ends.
Sources said, efforts would be made to provide security to vehicles moving along the highways but it would depend on availability of forces.