Police and security forces out to control the mob
Lamka, Jul 29: The 12-hour bandh called by COP- TAM to protest over-lap- ping census and manipu- lation of hill district boun- daries was marred by iso-lated violence forcing the district administration to im- pose prohibition under 144 (2) CrPC within the area of Kangvai, a frontier village.
A spate of lashing and stone pelting was reported since early today in Kang-vai and Phougakchao area as angry mobs attacked some members of Chura-chandpur District Stu- dents' Union allegedly for removing the PWD signboard at Kangvai village. The signboard had displayed in bold letters 'Wel- come to Bishnupur District.'
At least nine members of the union, including four of its executive members suffered injuries in the incident.
High ranking security officials from Churachandpur and Bishnupur had to intervene to subdue the mob that had gathered at Kangvai after the attack on the union leaders. A local cable network reporter also allegedly insulted and slapped during the commotion.
A stand-off ensued in the inter-district boundary thereafter for about a couple of hours but the police and an Army team managed to control the crowd that were in confrontation mode.
Soon after, the district administration of Churachandpur imposed restriction under 144 (2) CrPC 1973 to check any untoward incident.
The restriction passed 'ex parte' until further orders was imposed following information received from various sources and police that, there is likelihood of breach of peace and tranquility within Kangvai village jurisdiction in Churachandpur district in connection with the inter-district boundary, said the magistrate's order.
The CDSU, it is learnt has meanwhile issued a 24 hour deadline to two individuals and the line bus transporters, whom it accused of instigating the attack on them, for tendering apology. 'If they fail to do so, we will decide our future course of action,' sources in the union said.
COPTAM's bandh that ended at 6 pm today was relatively calm and total in other parts of the district.(TSE)
Zomi rights body flays
IMPHAL, Jul 29: The Zomi Human Rights Foundation has strongly condemned assault of CDSU functionaries by some individuals belonging to the majority community at Kangvai area today.
A Foundation release issued by its Information and Publicity Department said apart from manhandling the CDSU functionaries who were enforcing the 12 bandh call, the rowdy elements damaged 4-5 vehicles used by the student leaders.
The rights body also took serious note of alleged 'overlapping census operation' in Sadar Hills, Chandel, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts with the assertion that these districts had never been under the jurisdiction of the 'valley district administration'.
While highlighting that rights of indigenous people are recognised by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and clearly enshrined in the Indian Constitution, the Foundation alleged that successive Governments of manipur had been ignoring existence and rights of the indigenous peoples.
It also demanded that informed consent of the indigenous people with due respect to tribal people and their lands be obtained and to restore original jurisdiction of the district administration of the hill districts. (IFP)
12 hr bandh affects normal life in CCpur
All shops and private institutions were closed and the roads wore a deserted look except for some pedestrians and small vehicles used by the bandh supporters or volunteers. The bandh started from 6 am and concluded at 6pm today.
All educational institutions except Rengkai Govt High School and Vimala Raina High School where Hindi examination was going on remained closed. Mediapersons, medical and some other essential public services were exempted from the purview of the bandh.
The bandh called to protest the overlapping in General Census 2011 was more or less peaceful except an incident at Phoubakchao/Kangvai, around 9 km from Lamka PS on Tidim Road where the CDSU, on hearing that there was some trouble, rushed to the spot. A scuffle followed and about 15 CDSU members were injured in the incident, according to an official report.
The incident occurred when some bandh supporters tried to remove the signboard displaying "Welcome to Bishnupur District" at Kangvai, and put it at Phoubakchao Lamkhai, which they said is the rightful boundary of the district, according to the source.
Some local reporters of TC Network and Hornbill Network were also assaulted by the villagers, and told them not to capture the incident, and tried to snatch their cameras, according to a source.
The CDSU President and some members reportedly sustained minor injuries. Churachandpur police rushed to the spot and tried to bring the incident under control. Some personnel of Moirang police allegedly used abusive words like, "You will later know whether Kangvai comes under Bishnupur district or not" to the CDSU leaders.
"Such a abusive words from the police will not solve the problem but may enlarge the boundary dispute to an even more serious situation," commented a CDSU leader.
It may be mentioned that the bandh was called to protest the overlapping in the General census 2011. Sources said that more than 84 villages from four hill districts have been included in the valley areas. The bandh supporters were demanding from the respective DCs/SDOs of the valley to hand over the Hill Land Records to their respective hill DCs/SDOs.
It may also be recalled that DC, Churachandpur, Ms Jacintha Lazarus, IAS, has assured that the district boundary disputes would be looked into by a Committee formed with the Chief Secretary as the chairman, and appealed to people not to hinder the census process.
In respect of Churachandpur district, more than 30 villages have been included in the valley district, according to a source.
Meanwhile, the CDSU in a briefing to the local pressmen strongly condemned the action of the Moirang police commandos, and appreciated the Churachandpur district police led by SDPO Manimohan for timely intervention. The CDSU leaders along with some local Memembers of ADC discussed further course of action.(Hueiyen News Service)
Chakka bandh in Ccpur today
Lamka, Jul 28: Protesting the existence of overlapping census in the exercise for 2011 at many parts of the state and condemning the attempt at changing district boundary, a complaint has been raised through the newly formed Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, COPTAM, and a 12-hour Chakka Bandh called on July 29.
The bandh is to start from 6 am tomorrow. Medical services, electricity, water supply and the media have been exempted from the bandh.
Meanwhile, backing the Khuga dam local contractors in their fight for securing payment of their bills by the state government, the CDSU issued a press statement today stating that the Khuga dam had not been completed even after a lapse of 28 years.
The government instead of making efforts to ensure completion of the dam have sidelined it time and again.
The demands of the contractors and the manner of handling the issue had enraged all concerned with the result that the progress made in the construction was very tardy, it said.
All works at the dam site had stopped since April 20 this year, it further said adding due to the long-pending completion many of the dam structures had broken and needed repair.
Many undesireable incidents may take place if the government continues to remain silent towards the demands of the contractors, it said.(IFP)
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