UNC bandh affects traffic along NHs; UCM president surprises over UNC’s justification

The 48 hours general strike called by the United Naga Council (UNC) from Oct 21 midnight, amidst the 10 days economic blockade called by Kuki Peoples’ Liberation Front/Army (KPLF/KPLA) in Hill districts of the state has severely affected normal traffic along both the National Highways connecting Manipur with the rest of the country.
Report reaching here from Jiribam said that around 10 rice bag loaded trucks were stranded at Jiribam area however, shops and other business establishment both private and government were open as usual. The report added that no vehicles were seen coming from Imphal side. Another report added that large numbers of bandh supporters were seen at Nungba and Oinamlong enforcing the 48 hours general strike of the UNC.
Along the National Highway No. 2 (Imphal –Dimapur road) no passenger vehicles or goods ferrying trucks were seen moving on the high ways. Report said that almost all shops and business establishment at Senapati district head quarters were shut down and government offices witness thin attendance. However, schools and colleges were not affected.
The UNC called the 48 hours total bandh in hill districts of Manipur in protest against the passing of the 3 government Bills for implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the state.
Meanwhile, President of the United Committee Manipur (UCM), Elangbam Johnson expressed surprise over the justification made by UNC over its 48 hours bandh against the passing of the 3 Government Bills by the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat.
In post uploaded through social networking site Facebook, Elangbam Johnson said that the 3 Bills passed for implementation of ILP in the state is not anti-tribal. 
“Claiming the recently passed three ILP Bills as anti -tribal is totally baseless”, wrote Johnson Elangbam. He urged the UNC to spell out any provision in the Bills that hurt the sentiments of the public.
Regarding the allegation about tribal leaders being not consulted to the making of the Bills, Elangbam Johnson wrote that the 20 tribal elected representatives of the Manipur Legislative Assembly were very much part in the making of the three Bills which took 3 years. And as for the consultation with the Hill Area Committee, there is a procedure, wrote Johnson.
 “The main function of the HAC is to see that any law made by the government doesn’t contradict or infringed into the tribal customary law and in case if the HAC felt that the Bills violated tribal rights then HAC could have constituted sub-committee to look into the matters”, Johnson wrote.