TODAY -
Govt apathy rubs salt into Heirok's wounds
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 02 2009: Peeved by the negligence of the State Government and local MLA on the demands of the villagers of Heirok and Kairenbokkok in the aftermath of a firing incident that took place at a Thabal Chongba venue of Heirok Part I Umang Laikon on March 24, last year that killed two girls, one boy and left a girl visually handicapped, the locals of the two villages are all set to launch a series of agitation if their demands are not fulfilled.

The villagers staged separate sit-in-protests at their respective localities in protest against the Government's stoic silence regarding their demands today.

Laishram Nirmala of Heirok Part I Mamang Leikai, Thokchom Promila of Heirok Part I Heituppokpi and Thokchom Romesh of Heirok Part II Bazar died in the incident, while Warok-pam Rebika of Kairenbikhok Mamang Leikai became visually handicapped after she was hit by a bullet in her head in the incident.

More than one year has passed, but the Government not given any compensation to me or my family, said Rebika during the sit-in-protest staged by the locals of her village at her locality.

Rebika said that the State Government and local MLA promised her family to provide adequate compensation and a job to her.

But these promises have not been implemented till date even after more than one year, she lamented.

Rebika's mother, Shanti who was also taking part in the demonstration said that Rs 4 lakhs and 70 thousand has been spent in the treatment of her daughter so far, but there is no hope for her recovery.

She added that all their homesteads and agricultural lands have been sold in undergoing treatment at Shillong and Guwahati.

However, neither local MLA nor State Government came to help her family, Shanti lamented.

Her family is now facing hard times in maintaining the needs of her one son and four daughters, Shanti said.

Father of Laishram Nirmala, L Thambou said that the Government promised to provide a Government job to a kin of every victim, but the promise has not been fulfilled.

Whenever the family complained to the local MLA in this regard, it seems that he is not taking much interest, a visibly emotional Thambou informed the reporters.

Promila's father, Thokchom Mohon said that his family met the local MLA on many occasions demanding him to change his promises into reality, but no positive response has been met so far.

Secretary of the JAC formed against the incident, Laishram Mandir said that the villagers put 12 demands to the State Government in the aftermath of the incident.

However, except a few demands, most of the demands have not been fulfilled, he added.

Mandir said that some of the major demands which include to provide 'compensate appointments' to victims family, to book the involved culprits, contsruction of Heirok Litan Multipurpose dam, construction of water suppy schemes have not been changed into action.

Maintaining that the local MLA and State Government are showing their negligence in these demands, the villagers would be compelled to launch a huge agitation if their pleas are not heard.

The sit-in-protests put up placards that read as, 'provide Government jobs to victims' families', 'why the local MLA ignore the demands of the villagers', 'change the promises into action by CM'.





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