AMMOCOC threatens
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 27 2018:
Alleging the State Government of attempting to drive away minority Muslims from Chingmeirong Nongpok in the name/guise of protecting farmlands/agricultural lands, the All Manipur Muslim Organisation Coordinating Committee (AMMOCOC) has threatened to launch a Statewide mass protest from 6 am to 6 pm of April 10, if the State Government fails to withdraw its land acquisition attempt by April 8.Speaking to media persons at its office at Chingmeirong Nongpok today, AMMOCOC general secretary Wahidur Rahaman said that in the past, there was an instance when the State Government issued a notice for buying the lands at Chingmeirong Nongpok area for construction of ML A and officers' quarters.
However, the landowners declined the proposal stating that they would not have anywhere to go if they sell the said land, he claimed.
The landowners even formed a JAC in connection with the issue and the JAC has submitted numerous memoranda to the State Government appealing for withdrawal of the land acquisition attempt.
He added that Manipur Revenue Minister, Imphal East DC, Imphal East SP and other officials had even visited the area and prohibited any construction in the said land under the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014 as the area was in the land records as an agricultural land.
Condemning the alleged attempt of the State Government to forcefully acquire the said land, Rahaman asked if the construction of the quarters is more important than preserving the agricultural lands.
Further asking if Chingmeirong Nongpok is the only place where people have settled despite the land being recorded as agricultural land, the general secretary demanded the authority concerned to withdraw the land acquisition attempt before April 8.If the State Government does not withdraw its stance by the said day, AMMOCOC will launch an 11 hour State wide mass protest from 6 am to 6 pm of April 11, he threatened.
On the other hand, spokesperson of All Manipur Muslim Student Organisation appealed to the State Government to withdraw its stand immediately and warned that if the authority fails to heed the demands of the people, the association will support the steps taken up by AMMOCOC and the JAC.
Medical emergencies, electricity and water and religious ceremonies will not be affected by the mass protest, he added.
It may be mentioned that the State Government has been taking up steps to acquire around 75 acres of land from different parts of Kontha Ahallup, Chingmeirong Nongpok and Meitei Kairang for keeping them as land banks.