COPTAM ready to meet 'any eventuality'
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, October 22 2013:
Amidst the demand for annulling the State Home department's Order on the issue of Police jurisdiction, COPTAM today said it is ready for any eventuality until the Home department transfers all the hill district villages that fall under valley police stations to their respective home districts.
COPTAM alleged that the Govt's decision was in total contrast to their yearlong demands of liberating all hill district villages from the control of valley police stations; transfer of hill district land records maintain in their neighbouring valley district; and total withdrawal of Panchayati Raj Institution in all the hill districts.
The Government's move which stands contrary to their demands has only made their resolve to uphold the demands all the more, COPTAM said adding had there been no malice intention on the Government's move Serou, Sugnu and Pallel will likely be placed under Chandel PS.
Likewise, Kwakta in Bishnupur and Khoupum in Tamenglong could be placed under Churachandpur PS.
The COPTAM also raised their apprehension over the lack of any officials sanction for transfer of all land records of Churachandpur and Senapati but maintained in the neighbouring valley districts, even as it lauded the Cabinet for the decision they have taken in this regard.
It further stated that despite the Cabinet decision, the DC of Bishnupur has refused to transfer the land records arguing that there is no land records of Churachandpur in Bishnupur district.
'If the motive of the report of Bishnupur DC is a deliberate attempt to take away tribal lands and merge them into Bishnupur district, the people of Churachandpur in particular and the COPTAM in general will never compromise over the issue,' said the statement issued by Letpu Haokip.
It added, the fact that some pockets of the hill areas of Manipur are 'surveyed land and their land records being maintained in the neighbouring valley district' is never a valid argument for transferring the said villages/areas/land to valley district or converted them into a revenue district.