The first day of the indefinite bandh along National Highway 2 (previously 61) in Wokha district passed off peacefully on Thursday
The bandh that began at 6:00 am today is being called by seven apex civil society organizations of the district – Lotha Hoho, Lotha Eloe Hoho, Lotha Students’ Union, Wokha District Village Councils Chairmen Association, Joint Action Committee, Wokha Town Colonies Chairmen Union, All Commercial vehicle Association, Wokha and Lotha Youth Hoho.
In a press communique, the CSOs urged all fellow Lothas in particular and Naga brethren in general to understand their genuine demand for realizing their right to have good roads, and appealed for cooperation and support in the fight for justice.
The CSOs, however, informed that the bandh will be intensified from 10th February 2024 if the authorities fail to provide positive response by 6:00 pm of 9th February, during which the CSOs will impose indefinite lockdown of the office of Deputy Commissioner Wokha, the office of SDO (NH) Wokha and total restriction of all vehicular movement and closure of all commercial establishments in the district.
The apex civil bodies also informed that in such eventuality, the following will be exempted from the purview of indefinite bandh: police, paramilitary forces, medical services including ambulances and private vehicles carrying patients or dead bodies, fire and emergency services, power department personnel with duty detailment slips from respective controlling authorities, postal services and the press. In cases of medical emergencies within the district, citizens are requested to get witness documents from their respective Village Council authorities or Colony Council chairmen and produce it before the bandh volunteers to obtain car passes.
The CSOs are demanding that the state authorities and the contractor, TTT Infra Private Limited, rectify the discrepancies identified by Joint Action Committee of Wokha Village Youth Organisation and to construct the highway as per the detailed project report (DPR).
Read more: Discrepancies found in 106 different locations in NH 61 road construction in Wokha: WVYO
