SAPO bandh on NH 39 enters 10th day

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by SPN Editor

On March 21, the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO), a group representing the Angami Naga tribe residing in areas bordering Manipur, had called a 72-hour bandh in connection to “permanent structures” and “deployment of armed personnel” at what it referred to as the “disputed” by Manipur government. The SAPO bandh is uncalled for as the said structures were constructed within the territory of Manipur.

However, Manipur CM N Biren has clearly said that no compromise on Manipur’s land, hinting the issue was not related to Manipur’s disturbing neighbour’s land.

On the 10th Day, most fuel stations opened as usual on Tuesday, but with the notice “Petrol stock nil” and provided only diesel. Long queues were seen at the few fuel stations that still had petrol in stock during the day.

Normal arrival of petroleum products in the State was severely hit owing to the indefinite bandh call given by Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO), which led to the suspension of plying of all kinds of Imphal-bound vehicles. The Manipur government had already made arrangements for the procurement of petroleum products from Assam through the Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37.

According to some staff of the fuel stations, petrol stocks dried up due to the non-arrival of oil tankers from outside. However, they added that diesel was still available. It has been almost a week since the oil tankers reached Imphal.

Meanwhile, the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on Tuesday urged the Centre to intervene in the prevailing situation along the Nagaland-Manipur border.

In a letter to Union Home minister Amit Shah, NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa and secretary general Sinam Prakash Singh said that the SAPO bandh on NH-39 bandh has not only cut off the lifeline of Manipur but has also affected the lives and livelihood of innocent people also the situation in adjoining areas of Manipur was deteriorating.