Reminding of its 96-hour total bandh that would be observed in Naga areas of Manipur beginning August 20 midnight, United Naga Council (UNC) Saturday said bandh would include educational institutions and construction work on the trans Asian railway line. According to UNC, medical department and fire brigade would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.

It also said “safe passage” would be allowed to out stationed students and other natives who were homeward bound on mass exodus due to violence and threats on NE people in some parts of the country.

UNC publicity wing in a statement said the protest was against the “utter lack of respect” for the democratic process of dialogue and “insincerity” on the part of the government of India and Manipur government in taking forward the tripartite talk on the demand for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur pending settlement of the indo-Naga issue.

UNC has requested the public to extend “cooperation and solidarity towards our legitimate and registered political issues, which is being deliberately ignored by the government.”