Police disperse Erabot-led dharna
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20 2011:
Notwithstanding presence of Minister Y Erabot among a group of protesters who were protesting against Government plan to build a five star hotel at Kabo Leikai along Naga rivulet after evicting the present residents, police swooped down upon a protest demonstration and went ahead with the land measurement drive in accordance to order of the Imphal East Deputy Commissioner today.
The local residents have been strongly protesting against the Tourism Department's plan to take over 1.5 acre of land from Kabo Leikai to make space for building a 5-star hotel there.
A team officials comprising of Imphal East DC's Assistant Commissioner, SDC and officials of PWD, Settlement and Land Records came to Kabo Leikai at around 7 am today for property assessment.
However, the official team faced a stiff opposition from the local residents who maintained that no five star hotel should be built there and for that matter, there was no need land measurement.
The local residents pledged that they would never leave their homesteads.
Interestingly, Wangkhei Assembly Constituency MLA Y Erabot was also present among the protesters.
Erabot told the officials that the arbitrary move for land measurement without giving any prior notice would cause serious disagreement and fury among the local residents and this may result in untoward incidents.
He further advised the officials to come on Friday without police for their assigned task of land measurement.
The local residents also made fervent appeals to the officials not to go ahead with land measurement by capitalising on the presence of police personnel who were reportedly in full strength.
In spite of all the appeals and arguments, the two sides could not come to any agreement.
Rather, the two sides came to open confrontation.
Minutes later, a team of Imphal West Police announced using loudspeaker to wind up the protest demonstration within five minutes.
All these while, Minister Erabot was sitting among the protesters.
Then some police officers approached Minister Erabot and sought his permission to go ahead with land measurement.
This time, Erabot made no objection and land measurement was conducted amidst the simmering discontent and protest.As the police force including women police who were in full strength were getting ready to fire tear gas shells and baton charge the protesters, the helpless residents cut short their dharna and left the site.
According to an official source, Chief Minister made stringent instruction to disperse the dharna on hearing that Minister Erabot was personally abetting the protest demonstration.
That was why, a strong police force was sent to Kabo Leikai just to foil the dharna, added the source.