Disturbed area status extended by one year
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 01 2014 :
Disturbed area status applied to all parts of Manipur has been extended by one more year in accor-dance to a Cabinet resolution adopted this afternoon.
The Cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat deliberated on the prevailing law and order situation together with reports submitted by CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles and other central paramilitary forces.
The State Cabinet after studying the reports gave its consent on extending the disturbed area status of Manipur by another year starting from today, conveyed Government spokes- man M Okendro.
Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 empowers the State Government to extend disturbed area status over the whole State or some selected areas of the State.
On the other hand, a Supreme Court directive said that the State Government should review disturbed area status applied over a State or some areas of the State with due permission of the Chief Minister after six months based on the prevailing law and order situation.
Taking serious note of the frequent bomb blasts and other acts of violence seen in different parts of the State, the State Cabinet felt that disturbed area status should be extended furthermore, Okendro said.
Another resolution of the Cabinet meeting was about requesting the Governor to convene the 9th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Okendro hinted that the winter session of the State Assembly may begin from December 18 .
In view of the strong and vehement objections raised from different quarters, the Shri Shri Govindaji Temple (Third Amendment) Bill 2014 which was passed by the State Assembly in its previous session may be withdrawn during the forthcoming session.
However, the Cabinet meeting stopped short of taking any concrete decision, Okendro said.
Although the Bill was passed by the State Assembly, the Governor was yet to give his assent.
One controversial provision which said that all Umang Lais (sylvan deities) should be brought under the administrative functions of Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board's Pandit Loishang evoked massive uproar in the State.