The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) today launched an indefinite ban on movement of vehicles owned by Meitei people, the majority ethnic groups in the state, within the Naga inhabited areas in Manipur and Nagaland.
Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang appealed to the NSF to reconsider their decision stating it would affect the lives of people in both the states and might cause communal tension.
The indefinite ban, which started from 6 am today, has been imposed as the Manipur government has allegedly failed to respond to a seven-day memorandum of the NSF submitted on February 16, which ended last night.
The NSF memorandum had demanded assurance from the Manipur government to provide security to Nagas and Naga vehicles in and around the valley areas of Manipur.
NSF president Subenthung Kithan said since the Federation did not receive any response from the Manipur government, its volunteers are checking the movement of vehicles owned by Meiteis.
The NSF demand comes against the backdrop of an incident on February 14 at Mantripukri in Imphal in which an NSF team was "harassed" by Manipur Police.
The memorandum demanded termination of service of the duty officer in charge and suspension of all police personnel involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, Zeliang asked NSF to resort to other peaceful and democratic means to achieve their goals.
Nagaland government has taken up the issue with its Manipur counterpart and the NSF should wait for response from the Manipur government before resorting to any form of agitation, Zeliang said in a letter to the NSF.
Besides affecting vehicular traffic, the Chief Minister said this stir would hit the supply of essential commodities in Manipur and parts of Nagaland.
As Nagas are on the threshold of a new political era, it should be kept in mind such an agitation would only create animosity in the minds of the affected neighbours, and could hamper peace and harmony in the region, he said.
