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June 23, 2001
0404 IST

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Anti-ceasefire stir spreads to interiors,
death toll 14

The anti-ceasefire agitation spread to the interiors of Manipur with protest marches being taken out and effigies of the prime minister and other leaders being burnt even as the indefinite curfew in three valley districts entered the fifth day on Friday.

Meanwhile, thousands of Nagas were shifted to other places from Imphal as a precautionary measure while the death toll in Monday's violence rose to 14, with an injured succumbing in hospital on Friday.

Defying indefinite curfew, about 3,000 people marched in a procession in interior Heirok area in Thoubal district on Friday morning protesting the extension of ceasefire to Manipur, official sources said.

They burnt effigies of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Union Home Minister L K Advani, ceasefire negotiator K Padmanabhaiah and National Socialist Council of Magalim (I-M) leaders.

The agitators raised slogans 'No ceasefire to Manipur', 'Do not break Manipur territory', 'Withdraw ceasefire' and 'Know the history of Manipur'.

The protest was organised by the Gocal Heirok Mayai Leikai Youth Club. A new joint action committee was also formed by the people to intensify the agitation in the area.

Sit-in protests were launched at different parts in the interior areas of Bishnupur district and attempts were made to take out rallies, but police commandos dispersed the people, official sources said.

In Imphal district, hundreds of people gathered at several places during relaxation of curfew and burnt effigies of central and NSCN(I-M) leaders at Kongba, Kakwa and other areas.

Sources said thousands of Nagas were also being shifted from different parts of Imphal district to safer places by para-military forces since Thursday night as a precautionary measure.

Hundreds of Nagas also left Imphal on their own during the lifting of curfew on Thursday and Friday, sources said.

The United Naga Council (UNC) has appealed to the people to live harmoniously even as several Naga villages were asked by some social organisations to announce their stand on the issue.

In a statement, the UNC appealed to all sections of the society to help each other and sought deployment of army and para-military forces at Naga villages.

Sources said the government had received reports of holding of meetings in different parts of Imphal by local clubs, organisations and associations, including women's groups, to launch a series of agitations against the extension of ceasefire to the state.

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