ICHAM reaches out to CCpur victims
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 03 2015:
The Information Centre for Hills Areas Manipur (ICHAM) president N Rajendro along with Kuki Inpi, Imphal general secretary Thangpao Haokip and Thadou Students' Association general secretary James Haokip today visited the injured persons of Churachandpur violence at Christian Hospital, Dewlahland and RIMS hospital.
Speaking to reporters, N Rajendro urged the State Government to resolve the issue through talks with the community leaders and representatives of different civil society organisations.
He said that ICHAM volunteers have come across a pamphlet circulated in Churachandpur district headquarters in local dialect.
Saying that the pamphlet mentions ten points as the reasons for opposing ILPS by the people of Kuki community, Rajendro said that ICHAM would fully support the ongoing agitation of Kuki people if these points are correct.
Rajendro said that the pamphlet mentioned that no tribal can own land at Meitei dominated areas, no tribal can do business at Meitei dominated areas, there would be no opportunity for tribal people in Government employ- ment, no tribal student would get admission in MBBS, Engineering and professional courses, no tribal can purchase land even at Lamka, no tribal student would get tribal scholarship, all the benefits that tribal people have been enjoying till date would be denied, tribal people who own land in Imphal would face lots of hardship, the State Government can confiscate land anytime no matter he/she has land patta, tribal people would need to produce different types of documents to claim that they are the original settlers of Manipur, if anybody fails to produce the documents to claim that his/her forefathers came to Manipur before 1951, he/she would categorised as 'outsiders', even if you have these documents, it would be cross-checked with Government records.
Saying that ICHAM has not come across any such points in the three Bills recently passed by the State Assembly, Rajendro said that ICHAM would fully support the people's agitation if the Bills have these points.
He also urged the State Government to look into the matter of circulating these pamphlets in Churachandpur district headquarters seriously.
Rajendro also opined that the State Government must have consulted the people of different communities residing in the State before passing the Bills.
Urging all sections of the society not to spread rumours at this critical juncture as it may create serious misunderstandings, Rajendro appealed to the people of Meitei community residing in Churachandpur to maintain calm.
He also remembered the significant roles of Kuki people towards protecting State's boundary.
Later, he also handed over monetary assistance to the medical helpline of Churachandpur violence.
Thangpao Haokip thanked the executives of ICHAM for visiting the injured persons and extending monetary help to the medical helpline.
Among the injured persons undergoing treatment in the two hospitals, condition of Kaplian (23) s/o Mangsuanmung of Mualkui is still critical.
He was hit by a bullet on the abdomen damaging his kidney.
Khailaljohn s/o (L) Paukholien of Chiengkonpang was grazed by a live bullet on the cheek.
Conditions of Thangminlun (19) s/o Zanglet of B Phaicham, who received bullet injury on abdomen and Gouzakham (25) s/o T Gingokap, who was hit hit by a bullet on his chest, are also critical.
Enkhankhup (19) s/o S Nangzachin of Hebron Veng LV Lane, Churachandpur, who received 80 per cent burn injury has been shifted to ICU after his condition deteriorated.
According to the family members, Enkhankhup received burn injuries inside the house of MLA Vungzagin Valte's residence.
He was evacuated to Imphal on September 1 .
The medical helpline has received a donation of Rs 4 lakh from different individuals and organisations so far.