Imphal, Mar 31 : Youth from Manipur capital Imphal recently undertook a "long march" under the banner "Love and Unity in North East", which concluded at Lakhimpur in Assam.

Organised by the group called "Young Horizon", the march commenced on January 30 from Imphal's Kangla Fort, and covered Nagaland and Assam. Its objective was to spread the message of peace and unity across the region.

Six hundred people, including some 80-year-olds and teenagers, covered village after village in Nagaland and Assam, to spread the message of "love, peace and unity".

This first time march gave different communities of the region a platform to raise their concerns on issues such as peace and development.

"We met and interacted. I find a social similarity between peoples'. There is similarity in living style and on all other fronts as well. When they asked us why we had come, we told them it was to send a message of love and peace," said S. Ibomcha Meitei, a participant.

H. Gourahari Singh, a villager in Lakhimpur, Assam, described the march as a real example of unity in diversity.

There is realization among right thinking people in the North East to develop the region unitedly.

"It would be beneficial for all of us. As my mind feels that it is a kind of preach. And this long march will bring safety and unity among us," said John Novisa, another participant.

Jobon Puyam, another participant, added, "Our goal and destination is to reunite all of us again and destroy the barrier of communication." (ANI)