Source: Hueiyen News Service / Joseph Joute
Churachandpur, July 29 2010:
The 12 hour bandh called by the Committee for Protection of Tribal Areas in Manipur (COPTAM) and supported by the Churachandpur District Students' Union (CDSU) affected normal life in the district today.
All shops and private institutions were closed and the roads wore a deserted look except for some pedestrians and small vehicles used by the bandh supporters or volunteers.
The bandh started from 6 am and concluded at 6pm today.
All educational institutions except Rengkai Govt High School and Vimala Raina High School where Hindi examination was going on remained closed.
Mediapersons, medical and some other essential public services were exempted from the purview of the bandh.
The bandh called to protest the overlapping in General Census 2011 was more or less peaceful except an incident at Phoubakchao/Kangvai, around 9 km from Lamka PS on Tidim Road where the CDSU, on hearing that there was some trouble, rushed to the spot.
A scuffle followed and about 15 CDSU members were injured in the incident, according to an official report.
The incident occurred when some bandh supporters tried to remove the signboard displaying "Welcome to Bishnupur District" at Kangvai, and put it at Phoubakchao Lamkhai, which they said is the rightful boundary of the district, according to the source.
Some local reporters of TC Network and Hornbill Network were also assaulted by the villagers, and told them not to capture the incident, and tried to snatch their cameras, according to a source.
The CDSU President and some members reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Churachandpur police rushed to the spot and tried to bring the incident under control.
Some personnel of Moirang police allegedly used abusive words like, "You will later know whether Kangvai comes under Bishnupur district or not" to the CDSU leaders.
"Such a abusive words from the police will not solve the problem but may enlarge the boundary dispute to an even more serious situation," commented a CDSU leader.
It may be mentioned that the bandh was called to protest the overlapping in the General census 2011.Sources said that more than 84 villages from four hill districts have been included in the valley areas.
The bandh supporters were demanding from the respective DCs/SDOs of the valley to hand over the Hill Land Records to their respective hill DCs/SDOs.
It may also be recalled that DC, Churachandpur, Ms Jacintha Lazarus, IAS, has assured that the district boundary disputes would be looked into by a Committee formed with the Chief Secretary as the chairman, and appealed to people not to hinder the census process.
In respect of Churachandpur district, more than 30 villages have been included in the valley district, according to a source.
Meanwhile, the CDSU in a briefing to the local pressmen strongly condemned the action of the Moirang police commandos, and appreciated the Churachandpur district police led by SDPO Manimohan for timely intervention.
The CDSU leaders along with some local Memembers of ADC discussed further course of action.