Nagas demonstrate in Shillong, demand Prez rule in Manipur

Alleging that Manipur Police opened unprovoked fire on supporters of NSCN-IM general secretary T Muivah at the Mao border checkpost, hundreds of Naga students today demanded a judicial probe into Thursday's incident.

Alleging that Manipur Police opened unprovoked fire on supporters of NSCN-IM general secretary T Muivah at the Mao border checkpost, hundreds of Naga students today demanded a judicial probe into Thursday's incident.

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Demanding imposition of President's Rule in Manipur, members of Naga Students Union, Shillong held a sit-in protest at Nagaland House here shouting slogans against Manipur government's 'highhandedness'.

"The unprovoked firing that led to the killing of Naga people at Mao is unconstitutional and act of highhandedness.

The culprits should be brought to book and a judicial probe instituted into the incident," students' body spokesman Xavier Mao said.

Officials in Imphal, however, maintained that three people, including two women, were killed in a stampede when the police used teargas to disperse the people at Mao on that
day.

The NSU protesters also displayed placards like 'Manipur Commandos Killing Machines', 'Say no to Ibobi', 'Respect human rights' and 'Indian government rein in Ibobi'.

"We demand President's Rule in Manipur since Nagas in that state are no longer secure as the government has failed to discharge its constitutional obligation," the students body
said.

The Naga body also submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil saying "the political gimmick by the Ibobi government over Muivah's visit is the root cause of the
prevailing turmoil."

Senior Nagaland Police and civil officials who visited the Mao area after yesterday's police action, said two Naga students were killed and many suffered bullet injuries
when the police opened fire and used teargas and rubber bullets against those waiting to welcome Muivah across the border in Manipur.