Life disrupted following Hoho-sponsored bandh

Kohima, Aug 18 : Life was disrupted following a Kyong (Lotha) Hoho-sponsored indefinite bandh that started today on the Wokha-Merapani road. Streets wore a deserted look and vehicles went off the road, official sources said. However, police, paramilitary forces and medical services were kept outside the bandh's purview, the statement said. The strike was called to protest the murder of a person and assault on Naga youths. Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the Kyong Hoho and other frontal organisations was held at Lotha Tribal Hall in Wokha. The meeting discussed the August 14 murder incident in the Lakhuti areas and attacks on nine Naga boys by a group of miscreants at Merapani. The organisations strongly condemned the August 14 incident where a 'non-local' was murdered by unknown miscreants. The Kyong Hoho also appealed to the public of Assam and Nagaland to cooperate with the investigating agencies. ''It has been revealed that a group of people gathered at Merapani and started harassing innocent Lotha Naga people. This cowardly act is totally unjustified,'' the statement said. ''It's unfortunate to mention that nine Lotha Naga boys, employed at private companies in Chennai who were returning home for holiday, were waylaid by the irate group and physically assaulted them near CRPF gate at Merapani on August 15,'' the statement informed.