Correspondent
IMPHAL, Jul 8: Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s attempt to break the deadlock over blockade imposed to protest the murder of six Naga hostages failed on Wednesday.
Singh who visited Senapati district on Wednesday held a high-level talk with the leadership of the United Naga Council (UNC) at the district headquarters.
Officials said that the meeting mainly focused on lifting the ongoing economic blockade which the Naga groups under the aegis of the UNC have imposed on the national highways and inter-district roads that has allegedly created a humanitarian crisis in Kuki-dominated hill areas.
The economic blockade was imposed to press for justice for the six Naga hostages butchered by the Kuki armed groups in Kangpokpi district. It was particularly imposed on the supply of essential commodities in the Kuki-dominated areas.
The meeting held at Senapati district headquarters ended with no breakthrough as the UNC leadership reportedly stuck to their demands, sources said.
The sources said that hour-long meeting focused on finding a way out to end the ongoing stir while addressing the demands raised by the Naga groups.
The chief minister appealed to the UNC leadership to withdraw the blockade in the larger interest of restoring normalcy and rebuilding trust among communities.
Despite the government’s appeal, the talks ended without any breakthrough, the source said.
However, UNC president Ng Lorho described the discussions as “fruitful and meaningful”, while talking to the reporters after the meeting.
“We had a fruitful and meaningful discussion, but it was not inconclusive,” Lorho told reporters, adding that there was no question of lifting the ongoing economic blockade.
The stir could even be intensified anytime unless the demands raised by the UNC and other Naga CSOs on the brutal murdered of the six Naga hostages were addressed, he added.
He demanded that those responsible for the abduction and murder of the six Naga hostages must be arrested and brought to justice.
While imposing the economic blockade, the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur has been pressing the authorities to book all those involved in the abduction and murder of the six hostages, the arrest of the chief of Leilon (Vaiphei) village, the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, and the removal Nemcha Kipgen from her position as the deputy chief minister of the state.
The UNC freshly submitted the four-point charter of demands while seeking justice for the six Liangmai Nagas hostages brutally murdered by the Kuki armed groups whose highly mutilated and dismembered mortal remains are still lying at JNIMS hospital morgue in Imphal.
The UNC and other Naga bodies have been pointing fingers to the chief of the Leilon village as the mastermind behind the abduction of the six Naga men along with others who secured safe release and the Kuki militants behind the brutal murder of the six hostages.
Apart from the chief minister and Senapati DC, the meeting was also attended by deputy chief minister Losii Dikho, MLAs – T Robindro, J Kumo Sha and Noorul Hassan among others. Earlier, the chief minister and his entourage were greeted by the people of Senapati district with black flags while reaching the district to show solidarity to the demands for justice for the six slain Naga hostages.
It may be noted that the six Liangmai Naga men who were abducted on May 13 last and their highly mutilated and dismembered bodies were recovered on June 10, a day after the Naga groups safely released 14 Kuki men held hostage by them after a prolonged negotiation through the UNC.
While hoisting the black flags, the protesters urged the government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, arrest all those responsible in accordance with the law, and take immediate and effective steps to ensure justice for the victims and their bereaved families.
They also called upon the authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
The chief minister held the meeting with the UNC leaders on the side-line of his visit to several locations across Senapati district to review some ongoing developmental projects in the district.