By IANS,
Aizawl : Normal life was crippled in the northeastern state of Mizoram Thursday following a dawn-to-dusk shutdown called by the Young Mizo Association (YMA) against a recent high court order blocking arrests of non-domicile Indians not having valid permits to live in the state.
“The bandh was total and successful across the state and it demonstrated that despite political differences, Mizos are united against the high court order, which challenges the constitutional rights of the Mizos,” a YMA leader told IANS.
The Guwahati High Court in an interim order had directed the state government to stop arresting Indian nationals not possessing Inner Line Permit, which is required for non-domicile people to enter and stay in the state.
Most markets, shops and business establishments, government and semi-government offices and educational institutions were closed. The roads wore a deserted look.
YMA, which is a powerful non-political organization in Mizoram, also organised protest demonstrations across the state.
The YMA also unfurled black flags over the buildings throughout the mountainous state.
“Reports from district headquarters said the shut down was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported,” a home department official said.
“The state government has appealed to the people not to be panicky and has assured that no stone would be left unturned to fight the court’s interim order legally even up to the Supreme Court,” the official added.