IMPHAL June 11 [TOI]--- Protesting against what it termed "relentless communal onslaught of the state government and communal forces of Imphal valley upon the Nagas and tribal communities," the United Naga Council (UNC) has called a 48-hour bandh in Manipur's "Naga areas" from Sunday midnight.
Another key reason for the stir is its growing demand from the Centre for an alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur independent of the state government. A decision in this regard was taken during the UNC's presidential council meeting held on June 3, the council said in a statement, adding that the stir would cover the ongoing Jiribam-Tupul railway project.
Among other points discussed in the meeting included the burning down of the Silent village in Tangkhul by neighbouring Saijang villagers on May 3 where properties worth crores of rupees were reduced to cinders and hundreds of villagers rendered homeless.
The state government imposed prohibitory orders under 144 CrPC in the area where the burnt houses once stood by declaring it a disputed area. Thus, the council members alleged, the government endorsed the terror unleashed by burning down the houses, clearly favoring Saijang villagers.
Instead of arresting the vandals and arsonists, the state government acted against the law of the land and adopted a communal position, alleged the UNC.
By evicting residents of 28 houses at Naga River Colony in Imphal, the state government on May 20 left more than 100 school students homeless. Three churches pulled down, it said adding that the standing court ruling of maintaining status quo was not honoured.
It said surrendered cadres of the KYKL (MDF) have been lodged by the state government with the 20th Assam Rifles at Chandel.
"Instead of developing the hills, the state government is using the tribal areas as the dumping ground for surrendered militant groups from the Imphal valley insulting the owners of the land. Organized protest has not resulted in any corrective measures from the government," the UNC further alleged.
In a bid to grab tribal land, attempts are being made to drag in tribal villages such as Khangshim, Kanemram, Nungaourok and Koraopokpi under Machi Block Chandel into Kakching block under Thoubal valley district. Signboards of the tribal villages have been damaged and provocative and derogatory insults are being hurled on the tribal communities, it said.
The UNC statement said that the political tour in Naga areas carried out in April and May at Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati districts has confirmed that the government's approach is communal.
Another key reason for the stir is its growing demand from the Centre for an alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur independent of the state government. A decision in this regard was taken during the UNC's presidential council meeting held on June 3, the council said in a statement, adding that the stir would cover the ongoing Jiribam-Tupul railway project.
Among other points discussed in the meeting included the burning down of the Silent village in Tangkhul by neighbouring Saijang villagers on May 3 where properties worth crores of rupees were reduced to cinders and hundreds of villagers rendered homeless.
The state government imposed prohibitory orders under 144 CrPC in the area where the burnt houses once stood by declaring it a disputed area. Thus, the council members alleged, the government endorsed the terror unleashed by burning down the houses, clearly favoring Saijang villagers.
Instead of arresting the vandals and arsonists, the state government acted against the law of the land and adopted a communal position, alleged the UNC.
By evicting residents of 28 houses at Naga River Colony in Imphal, the state government on May 20 left more than 100 school students homeless. Three churches pulled down, it said adding that the standing court ruling of maintaining status quo was not honoured.
It said surrendered cadres of the KYKL (MDF) have been lodged by the state government with the 20th Assam Rifles at Chandel.
"Instead of developing the hills, the state government is using the tribal areas as the dumping ground for surrendered militant groups from the Imphal valley insulting the owners of the land. Organized protest has not resulted in any corrective measures from the government," the UNC further alleged.
In a bid to grab tribal land, attempts are being made to drag in tribal villages such as Khangshim, Kanemram, Nungaourok and Koraopokpi under Machi Block Chandel into Kakching block under Thoubal valley district. Signboards of the tribal villages have been damaged and provocative and derogatory insults are being hurled on the tribal communities, it said.
The UNC statement said that the political tour in Naga areas carried out in April and May at Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati districts has confirmed that the government's approach is communal.
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments not related to the topic will be removed immediately.