Imphal: At least five vehicles were set ablaze on Imphal-Jiribam Road in Tamenglong district of Manipur on Thursday during a 24-hour bandh called by three Zeliangrong groups from Wednesday midnight in protest against the Centre and state government's alleged failure to arrest their leaders' abductors.

Suspected bandh supporters set fire to two Jiribam-bound passenger vehicles and three Imphal-bound goods-laden trucks at Kaiphundai on Imphal-Jiribam Road (National Highway 37).

The bandh was called in the Zeliangrong areas (inhabited by the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei Naga tribes, mostly in Tamenglong) by the Zeliangrong Baudi, the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) and the All Zeliangrong Students' Union.

The Zeliangrong groups demanded the arrest of NSCN (I-M) leaders and cadres allegedly involved in the abduction of ZYF and Zeliangrong student leaders on August 4.

They named Sangailung Pamei, the NSCN (I-M)'s central administrative officer of Zeliad region, Thailik alias Joel Rongmei, the outfit's deputy kilonser (minister), and Khangdi Kamei, a "captain" as those involved in the abduction.

In a statement, the Zeliangrong Civil Organisation said its leaders were facing serious threats and intimidation from the NSCN (I-M) and that the outfit was "misusing" some individuals, in the guise of students' organisations called Rongmei Students Organisation Manipur and Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, as its "mouthpiece".#