Heingang converted into military garrison, alleges HKMPAL
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 19 2015:
Heingang Assembly Constituency has been converted into a military garrison, alleged Heingang Kendra Meira Paibi Apunba Lup (HKMPAL).
The Lup also added that the people of Heingang will not approve new initiatives to station military personnel at Koirengei Air Field.
Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club, HKMPAL alleged that Assam Rifles (AR) personnel stationed at Koirengei Air Field have been replaced by personnel of the 165 Territorial Army Assam Regiment A Coy.
HKMPAL; civil society organisations of Heingang Kendra and senior citizens discussed the consequent impact of the presence of military personnel at the Koirengei Air Field in a meeting.
They felt that the road that leads to Achanbigie has been closed down causing great inconvenience to agricultural activities.
Decline in agricultural activities will lead to conversion of agricultural land into non-agricultural land creating fear in the minds of the Heingang residents, said sources.
Subsequently, the meeting decided to urge the State Government to convert Koirengei Air Field into a State property and leave the space for collective welfare � for public utility besides constructing market sheds and a parking for Buses & Trucks.
If the demands are not translated into visible actions by March 15, the meeting resolved to launch an agitation.
In the press conference, Tongbram Gulamcha, retired Government Lecturer, said though India is an independent democratic country, the people are not independent and the number of military personnel has increased manifold in the last few years which limited the free movements of the residents occupied by them.
He alleged that Assam Rifles have occupied most of the physical spaces impacting on the expansion of Imphal city and posing a threat to the well being of Heingang residents.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF); Border Security Force (BSF); Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) and Assam Rifles (AR) are stationed within a small areas of Manitripukhri to Kuthi Keikol informed Nandalal Angomcha, president Awang Meikei Umanglai Kanba Lup (AMUKL).