The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has “temporarily suspended” the economic blockade on Thursday.

In a statement made available to Newmai News Network, the ANSAM said that in view of the "dire hardship" faced by the general public in the midst of ongoing conflict and following the assurance committed by the convener, Naga Legislator Forum, Awangbow Newmai, Minister, on behalf of the government to fulfill the two legitimate demands of the ANSAM, the emergency meeting of the ANSAM, executive council, units of the ANSAM and representatives of Naga Legislature Forum which was held at Shelley Chara Memorial Hall, ANSAM Secretariat, Senapati on November 9 “has resolved to temporarily suspend the ongoing economic blockade being called by the association”.

The ANSAM said it acknowledged the process of restoring mobile internet with partial opening of internet in some parts of the district headquarters and while appreciating the difficulty of government, the Naga student body made it “very clear” that the government should take prompt action for opening of mobile internet in all the areas of the state not affected by the violence including the interior villages and provide permanent and uninterrupted services as assured by the minister and the pending result of assistant professor (145+45 ST Special Drive) be declared promptly as per the assurance.

“The ongoing agitation shall be resumed anytime in the event of failing to implement the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on October 26, 2023 between the government of Manipur and the ANSAM in the presence of the Chief Minister of Manipur,” the Naga student body asserted.

The ANSAM then expressed its “strong condemnation against Major Deepak Kataria of 16 Assam Rifles, Hengbung for the heinous act of intimidating the ANSAM volunteers at T. Khullen while enforcing the aforementioned agitation”.

The Naga student body said such “hostile attitude and high handedness” of the Assam Rifles towards the student community is highly questionable and uncalled for. “The notoriety of Assam Rifles surfacing again at this juncture is unfortunate and a matter of great concern,” the ANSAM also said. Therefore, the ANSAM cautioned the rank and file of Assam Rifles not to repeat such act in future to usher in peace in Naga areas.