Contempt case to be filed in HC against LDA
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 24 2013 :
All Loktak Lake Area Fishermen's Association is all set to file a contempt case in the Gauhati High Court against Loktak Development Authority (LDA) for the destruction caused to phumdi-huts in Loktak Lake in defiance of an earlier order of the High Court.
On February 16, Gauhati High Court had issued an order prohibiting removal of phumdi-huts from Loktak Lake and made it clear that necessary legal actions would be initiated against the Chairman of LDA, which happens to be none other than Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh himself, the Project Director of LDA, Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur district and its SP, if the court order is not abide by.
Addressing media persons at the office of Human Rights Alert (HRA) at Kwakeithel here today, Dr Debabratta Roy, Convener of the Fact Finding Mission, which was formed to look into the matter of clearance of phumdi-huts from Loktak Lake, informed that the Fact Finding Team has today gone to inspect the condition of the phumdi-huts at Langolshabi area of Loktak Lake which have been destroyed by LDA and police personnel in definance of the Court order.
During the inspection, the Fact Finding Team was informed by the villagers that a team of LDA officials who were accompanied by Moirang Police personnel came to the area saying that they came to enquire about the phumdi-huts being built on Loktak Lake but they started destroying the phumdi-huts taking the villagers by surprise.
At that point of time, womenfolk of the area came out and protested.
The police personnel then began firing gunshots to disperse the protestors, Dr Debabratta Roy recalled.
The Fact Finding Team also witnessed a number of huts which have been destroyed, which the villagers claimed was done by using Water Master Classic-3.In the act, not only the phumdi-huts but also the fishing nets and other equipments of fish farmers have been destroyed.
The villagers have even recorded the statement of LDA official who said that they do not care the order of the Court, which is a clear case of 'contempt of court', he added.
In connection with the action of the In this regard, an FIR has been lodged with the Bishnupur Police Station by All Loktak Lake Area Fishermen Association and a contempt case is all set to be filed in the Gauhati High Court.