About 30,000 anti-ceasefire protestors, on Sunday, defied indefinite curfew and marched in a procession as security posts remained alert in view of the 24-hour general strike, called by the United Committee Manipur, starting from midnight on Sunday night. Official sources said that about 20,000 people gathered at Mongsangei ground in Imphal west and marched along Nambul river bank to Keisampat in Imphal defying curfew and prohibitory orders.
As roadside sit-in protestors joined the procession at several places, the number of participants crossed 30,000, reports said adding that the processionists later proceeded towards Imphal airport road from Keisampat. They reconverged on Mongsangei ground where they held a meeting. Several speakers stressed the need to continue agitation till ceasefire was withdrawn from Manipur.
In Kohima, several Naga organisations have urged the Centre not to abrogate the ceasefire agreement between the Centre and NSCN (I-M), cautioning that such decision might derail the entire Naga peace process. The ex-parliamentarian association of Nagaland expressed serious concern over the development in the region and appealed to the neighbouring states to be ``more considerate and conduct a serious retrospection`` into the events of north-eastern political history pertaining to Nagaland.
Bureau Report