KSO decries IFCD EE's Conduct
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, September 23 2014:
The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Imphal Branch strongly condemned the undesirable behavior of the Executive Engineer of IFCD for threatening the womenfolk who voiced their disapproval against the plan to destroy the prayer garden located near Haokip Veng, Imphal.
"The Executive Engineer blatantly intimidated the protesters by taking pictures of the women with his mobile phone and threatened to post them on newspapers.
He also threatened to use police to crackdown on the peaceful protesters," the Kuki Students Organisation, Imphal alleged.
The Engineer also abused his power by threatening to use force, the KSO further alleged.
"His rudeness and insolence towards the women cannot be overlooked and he should apologize," the KSO-Imphal demanded.
In fact the bone of contention between the IFCD and the protesters was amicably resolved on September 13, in the presence of the IFCD minister and the Chief Engineer, the KSO claimed.
"But the Engineer purportedly disapproved the agreement and came up with a new alignment for the retaining wall on September 17, which totally negated the alignment agreed upon," the KSO stated.
According to the Kuki students' body, the prayer garden is akin to a place of worship and this plan of the IFCD to destroy it is an outright violation of their rights.
"There are many places of worship located in the hill areas that belong to religions other than Christianity.
These religious places are treated with respect and tolerance by everybody irrespective of religious beliefs.
So, the plan to destroy this prayer garden located at the bank of Imphal River is deemed discriminatory and anti-tribal," the KSO said.
"The protesters and the KSO want to settle the issue peacefully, but if the IFCD chose to use force then we are prepared for it," it asserted.