UFO appeals
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 04 2018:
In the wake of the Government's intensified eviction drive against encroachers from reserved forest areas, the Universal Friendship Organisation (UFO) has appealed to the Government authorities to spare their camps.
Speaking to media persons at their Langol Amamlok camp today, UFO Commander on Special Duty Huidrom Naokhomba said that UFO's branch camp of Top Khongnangkhong was also demolished when the Government carried out an eviction drive at Awachmg two days back.
Saying that they have received information about the Government's plan to demolish some other offices/camps of UFO, Naokhomba contended that there is a vast difference between establishment of UFO camps and construction of houses or establishment of villages within reserved forest areas.
At every place where there is UFO camp, forests are preserved and protected and no wild animals are harmed.
UFO camps and offices were set up out of money contributed by its members and they are the only places where the Meitei community gather together, he claimed.
It is also an educational centre set up to prevent youngsters from going to the wrong path.
So far, UFO has not committed anything anti-social or unlawful.
Naokhomba then appealed to the Chief Minister to spare UFO camps from the eviction drive.
He said that UFO has 33 battalions within Manipur and five other battalions outside the State.
There are 226 branches in total and another branch would be opened at Thamnapokpi, Bishnupur district on July 11, Naokhomba said.
There are more than two lakh UFO members and they can assemble together at a very short notice, he claimed.