MLA Rajen defended
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 19 2018:
L Bobby, member of the 6th Potsangbam Zilla Parisad, has appealed for immediate relaxation of the bandh which has been imposed along National Highway 2, Imphal-Dimapur road by the locals of Sekmai bazar from today morning apart from clarifying that Lamshang MLA S Rajen did not utter any of the statements/words which he has been accused of, by the secretary general of Sekmai Protection Committee.
This was stated during a press conference held at the Shantipur Sporting Club building in connection with the tense atmosphere which is currently present between Awang Leikenthabi Shantipur and Sekmai, over the construction of a community hall.
Bobby explained that Awang Leikenthabi village is located at the boundary of Lamshang Assembly Constituency and as the population of the village is quite low, the construction of the community hall was mooted by the locals and the MLA for development of the village.
She continued that the Lamshang MLA also tried hard for proper demarcation of the land of Sekmai, Maharabi and Leikenthabi, in presence of officials concerned, so as to prevent any kind of misunderstanding among the villagers.
She claimed that in connection with the construction of the community hall, the locals and authority concerned had been in touch with the members of Sekmai Protection Committee and an agreement was reached for the construction of the community hall.
In the meantime, all of a sudden, locals of Sekmai started demarcating the construction site using excavators on November 16 she alleged and continued that the next morning, MLA Rajen was informed about the incident and as such he came to hold a meeting at Awang Leikenthabi Shantipur, which was also attended by the members of Sekmai Protection committee and the Chairperson of Sekmai Zilla Parisad.
The MLA, along with SDO, locals of Awang Leikenthabi Shantipur, members of Sekmai Protection Committee and Chairperson of Sekmai Zilla Parisad went to the site for proper demarcation of the land and to see if the said area belongs to the State Government or not.
MLA Rajen even appealed to the members of Sekmai Protection Committee to donate the land even if it belongs to Sekmai, Bobby said.
However, Laimayum Dhana (general secretary of Sekmai Protection Committee), started arguing with the MLA using abusive words, she alleged and added that this angered the MLA's security escort who took action against the individual although the locals managed to prevent the situation from escalating further.
She further stated the allegations levelled against MLA Rajen by Dhana and other organizations of Sekmai, are totally baseless.
Bobby also said that the Lamshang MLA did not utter any word which mentioned that he will evict the locals of Sekmai who are settled in Awang Leikenthabi Shantipur area and claimed that she herself was also present during the time of incident.
She appealed to all those concerned to immediately refrain from playing blame game and asked all to come forward for bringing an amicable solution to the issue.
She also appealed for immediate relaxation of the bandh imposed along the National Highway and reasoned that bandh and blockade will not bring any solution.