ATSUM, KSO condemn retaliation
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, October 08 2020:
Taking the situation in and around the National Sports University into consideration, District Magistrate Kangpokpi has issued prohibitory order under CrPC 144 restricting movement of any person in the scheduled area of Haraothel (L Tangnaum) village in Kangpokpi district.
The District Magistrate, Kangpokpi, Somorjit Salam issued the prohibitory order and detailed T Opendro Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Kangchup-Geljang for Magisterial duty in the area.
Meanwhile, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has strongly condemned the retaliation by a mob (supporting Senjam Chirang, Senjam Khunou and Koutruk) today in an obvious retaliation to yesterday's agreement reached between the State Government and KSO Sadar Hills over NSU and urged utmost restraint.
It said that on October 7, the State Government and the Kuki Students' Organisation, Sadar Hills signed an agreement on National Sports University, Haraothel.
Unfortunately, the mob blocked all roads leading to hill villages surrounding Leimakhong and Haraothel (L Tangnuam) village, destroyed signboards (displaying Kangpokpi district) at Leimakhong Mission Veng.
In an ugly turn of events, thousands of mob marched to Haraothel village and threatened the Haraothel (L Tangnuam) villagers, it added.
It also said that the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur strongly condemned the barbaric act of the mob which came with machetes, knives and stick and marched in thousands to Haraothel (L Tangnuam) village while adding that had they not been stopped by Manipur police, the situation could have turned volatile.
The tribal student body asserted that the act of the mob lacked any reasonable cause and it is obvious that the step was in retaliation to yesterday's agreement reached between the State Government and KSO Sadar Hills.
ATSUM said it condemns any form of retaliation and aggression which are not acceptable in a civilised society and to avoid the risk of retaliation, the State Government must take steps to enhance security for the surrounding villagers and speed up the process of resolving the issue of National Sports University so that peace and tranquillity prevail.
The student body also questioned the Government as to how unsurveyed hill land area was acquired without the knowledge and approval of the Autonomous District Council and Hill Area Committee.
It also said that the area being donated for setting up NSU falls under unsurveyed hill land area till 2009.Meanwhile, KSO Twibul lhang also condemned the attack on innocent villagers of Leimakhong and Haraothel (L Tangnaum) villages around Leimakhong and NSU site strongly.
The student body lauded the N Biren Singh-led BJP Government for upholding justice by acknowledging the facts and considering renaming NSU as NSU Haraothel, Kangpokpi district.
It asserted that the issue of Leimakhong Chingmang and NSU Haraothel (L Tangnaum) are very different and appealed to all CSOs not to merge the issue of Leimakhong Chingmang with NSU Haraothel.
It also said that on learning the destruction of Laipham, "we have enquired the matter and its seems the destruction was unintentionally done out of confrontation among the two communities and we strongly condemn the destruction" .
It also appealed not to repeat the uncivilized act of brutality and barbarism which was demonstrated today at Leimakhong and Haraothel (L Tangnaum) villages in future and instead promote peace and tranquillity in the area.