United Naga Council, an apex body of the Nagas in Manipur, has called a 24-hour general strike in all "Naga inhabited areas in Manipur" with effect from Tuesday midnight. It is demanding lifting of the prohibitory orders clamped in Ukhrul town and withdrawal of police commandos, Manipur Rifles and Indian Reserve Battalion troopers from the district. The government despatched the additional forces numbering 700 personnel to the town following the killing of Ngalenzar Malui, a member of Autonomous District Council, Ukhrul on Saturday.
The state government and the UNC have been at loggerheads all these years. The UNC has been demanding an "alternative arrangement" for the Nagas in Manipur as it contends that they no longer want to stay under the "communal government led by Okram Ibobi Singh". Some inconclusive rounds of talks were held with the representatives of the union government on the issue.
Though the general strike will be imposed in the "Naga inhabited areas only" in practical terms it will affect the entire state. Bus services will be ground to a halt
Government sources said that vehicles will be provided armed escort on both the highways which are the lifelines of the state. But the vehicles become easy targets of the activists since there is no adequate number of security personnel. But the government is ready to tackle lawlessness.
