Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 04 2008:
THE LONG march of the Manipuri Diaspora will arrived at Tamenglong this evening at 6 pm and is schedule to reach the valley part of the state tomorrow evening.
The marchers wearing red trousers and blue shirts, kick started from Silcher on December 29, were received by the company commnder of the D-company of the 86th battalion of the CRPF AN Jah at Tubul today.
The lodging and fooding arrangements were also made by the post.
After night halt at the place and having meal of the day tomorrow, the marcher will proceed further to reach Keithelmanbi, the meeting point of hill and valley along the NH-53 .
Till date the marcher covered a distance of 210 km against the total 272 kilometer between Imphal and Silcher.
The march which was expected to at Imphal on December 7 will now reached Imphal a day ahead, said the organizers.
Earlier, this morning, the marchers were flag off by chairman of the Irang Toubam R Kamei from the village and reached Tupul with no any untoward incident.
Out of 500 marchers participating in the march, half of them are Meetei settling in Cashar of Assam.
Interestingly, a 70-year old woman is among the marchers.
She is the oldest person taking part in the long march.
The 70-year old woman, Thounaojam ongbi Sanathoi hailing from Cashar Karamganj in an interaction with Hueiyen Lanpao said that she is taking part in the march only to witness Manipur during her life time.
While appeared in Standard-X exam, she once visited Imphal, she said.
Some well wishers also donated money to the marcher.
Among them one Poireiton hailing from Bantarapur Sundari-III, Cashar district donated Rs.500 .
Meanwhile, in a statement of the convener of the Manipuri Diaspora, Y Nabachandra, five other 55-year old men are also actively participating in the march.
The march covered 40 to 45 kilometer per day.