Outfits call shutdown on R day in NE

The United National Liberation Front of WESEA (UNLFW)- a conglomerate of Coordination Committee (CorCom), Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), and other insurgent outfits - have called for boycotting the Republic Day celebrations in the region (north-east).
A statement issued by UNLFW also called for a total shutdown in the region from midnight January 25 till 6 PM on January 26 and imposing sanctions on all official and non-official programmes.
The call exempted emergency services, media from the purview.
The outfits alleged the union government was pursuing a hegemonic colonial policy in the region to assimilate all the distinct culture, people and territories and called for protecting the indigenous identity of the people of the region, including Manipur.

The outfits also included Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Maoist Communist party (MCP-M), Kangleipak Communist Party and Poirei Metitei Lup (KCP-PML).
A government spokesman said any move to disrupt the Republic Day celebration will be foiled and the police and forces were alert.