Remove unauthorised checkposts : NWU

Our Correspondent
SENAPATI, Sep 27: The Naga Women’s Union (NWU) has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs, Central forces and the State Home Department to remove all unauthorised checkposts and gates which have been established in different districts of Manipur  in the course of the ongoing conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities.
The Naga Women’s Union in  a statement stated that the unauthorized checkpoints and gates have been causing severe inconveniences to the public particularly commuters and motorists.
The construction of bunkers and placing of objects such as mud-filled sacks, barricades and drums on the roads and roadsides violate the rights of the public.
The NWU said that the commuters are often subjected to harassment, torture, extortion and threat by armed groups.
Of all the inconveniences, demand for ID proof of the travellers, vehicle numbers, asking drivers’ identity and speaking unknown tongue during their unnecessary queries are stated to be intolerable to all the non-warring groups.
The brazen conduct which irks the people should be stopped considering the sentiment of the weary travellers and public, the NWU said.
Sometimes in the check gates on the National Highways, it has to wait for long minutes to pass through. Many a great time, traffic jams are caused by checking at these unauthorized checkposts and school vans cannot reach schools in time, the women body lamented.
The civil rights of the non-warring groups cannot be compromised for more than 17 months, the release added.
It is quite appalling that the Central military forces and State forces and members of militant organisations are on ‘duty’ in close proximity to each other, the NWU remarked and asked both the Central forces and the State force to perform their duty with professionalism without any bias. It asserted that members of armed organizations should not be allowed to loiter on the highways and public places.
The Naga community has been bearing the brunt of the conflict facing all the provocations without retaliating.
It is time that both Meitei and Kuki communities come forward for a peace process, the NWU added.