Protest rally against Sadar Hills district foiled
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 17 2011: The silent public rally organized by the Committee Against the Creation of Sadar Hills District in the Imphal area was foiled by police after the imposition of CrPC 144 in the areas where the rally was to be taken out.

A large number of people turned up for the rally from different Zeliangrong villages of Senapati, Churachandpur and Sadar Hills areas.

It was flagged off from Ragailong at around 11 in the morning.

As the rally wound its way, the rallyists were stopped by police personnel at the eastern gate of Khuman Lampak.

The leaders of the committee pleaded with the police officers not to block the rally as it was a peaceful and silent one.

But since there was CrPC 144 imposed in the area they were not allowed to proceed further.

Later four delegates of the committee were allowed to submit a memorandum to the Governor.

The delegates discussed the matter with the Governor of Manipur and the Governor assured the delegates that the matter will be discussed with the Chief Minister, said a press statement released by M Panam, Co-convenor of the Committee Against the Creation of Sadar Hills District.

Zeliangrong womenfolk from Senapati, Ccpur and Sadar Hills areas taking out a rally against the Sadar Hills

The memorandum submitted to the Governor and the Chief Minister of Manipur said that the Zeliangrong Union and the Nagas in general have been opposing the state governments' persistent policy of fragmenting the Naga areas to form and develop new new administrative units for the Kuki political interest in the Sadar Hills since 1969.The ANSAM and the UNC also made the same demand not to create Sadar Hills district for...Kuki political interest on the lands belonging to the Nagas.

The state government had repeatedly assured that no separate district of Sadar Hills would be created in the MoU of 1981, 1982, 1996 and 1998 signed with the Nagas.

It further said that despite such background of Sadar Hills the state government has made a surprise move on October 31, 2011, by agreeing to create a new Sadr Hills district and signed an MoU with the the Kukis to that effect.

This sudden a anti-Naga and pro-Kuki move of the state government is an unfortunate step.

The Nagas consider this act of partiality and biased policy against the Nagas as a desperate reaction to the existing political complexity.

The Nagas do not oppose any reorganization of administrative units for the purpose of development and administrative convenience.

The Nagas have been living with many other tribes and different sections of the society.

The Nagas have opposed to the formation of sadar Hills administrative unit (since its inception in 1954) with the evil intension of making it a political home for the Kukis on the lands belonging to the Nagas, the press released said.

It went on to say that the main demand of the Zeliangrong people is that all the Zeliangrong inhabited areas now in sadar Hills should be re-integrated and merged with its parent district of Tamenglong.

In 1990, the Centre has conceded this demand and assurance was given to Rani Gaidinliu, though the state government has yet to materialize the Centre's directive for two decades.

After the talk with the Governor the rallyist proceeded back to Ragailong village ground where a public meeting was also held.