Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 09:
Uneasy calm prevails over Nepali villages scattered in Sadar Hills after the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) served ultimatums to four elected representatives asking them to resign from their respective post within November 12.The four representatives who were reportedly intimidated by the SHDDC include two pradhans, one zilla parishad member and a Gram Panchayat member.
Speculating that the threatening letters issued by the general secretary of SHDDC T Misao is likely to be linked to the body's boycott of the September 9 panchayat elections which was however conducted in areas inhabited by Nepali people, sources said the defiance by the Nepali villagers might have prompted the threat.
SHDDC has been spearheading the demand to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full fledged revenue district.
Moreover, an autonomous district council still exists in sadar Hills.
Confirming the SHDDC threat, Superintendent of Police (Senapati) Nishit Kumar Ujwal said the police have already registered an FIR case against T Misao in addition to initiating strong security measures to safeguard the minority community settled in the district.
Maintaining that State security force personnel have been deployed in Nepali villages as pre-emptive measures to thwart any untoward incident, the SP further informed that efforts are on to nab SHDDC leaders including Misao.
On the otherhand, condemning the threat All Manipur Gorkha Welfare Association (AMGWA) asserted that the elected representatives need not cow down to such intimidatory tactics.
AMGWA president RP Chapagain said some Gorkha leaders have already called on the Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh to urge for adequate security provision besides proposing setting up of village defence forces to safeguard themselves.
"By nature we are peace loving people but we will stand firmly for our rights," Chapagain added.
Out of about 50,000 Nepali population in the State around 13,000 are said to be settled in Sadar Hills areas.
Official sources confirming the Gorkha delegates' meeting with the Chief Secretary recently at the State capital also stated that Jarnail Singh has issued directives to the Deputy Commissioner and SP of Senapati district to ensure all possible measures are taken up for protecting Nepali villagers.
It is pertinent to mention that after the SHDDC announced boycott of the September 9 local body elections, polling process in Char Hajaar area of Sadar Hills was disrupted with hundreds of women folk belonging to the Kuki tribe destroyed poll materials.
SHDDC had also enforced 48 hours bandh intent on discouraging the voters from exercising their franchise rights.
During the bandh period suspected agitation supporters torched a motorcycle and burnt down a saw mill belonging to one Kedarnath Sharmaat of Char Hajaar who was in the fray for the pradhan election.
Meanwhile, a SHDDC leader said a meeting has been convened to discuss future course of action in case elected panchayat members do not oblige its intimation to resign within the specified date.