AMUCO, UCM back bandh call
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 20 2015 : The United Committee Manipur (UCM) and All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO) have endorsed the 24 hours bandh called by the Committee for Koziirii- Dzuko Land Boundary Resolution in association with Mao Council and other CSOs of Mao area which is slated to begin from midnight of May 22 .

In a joint press meet held at UCM office today, president of UCM, Elangbam Johnson said that till today the State Government has failed to take up concrete steps to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur.

The encroachment issue is more than 30 years old now, yet the State Government has been a silent spectator.

He added that the land encroachment is not a minor issue as the road construction initiated by Integrated Rural Tourism and Road Development Authority under the directive of Nagaland Government using heavy machinery has penetrated more than 10 kms into the territory of Manipur.

With the completion of the road, the State can lose more than 100 sq kms of land to Nagaland and still the State Government has been neglecting this issue, Johnson added.

Even though the SDO and DC concerned have conducted a spot inquiry on the matter after complaints were made by people of Mao, they could not say or do anything as the construction works were guarded by volunteers armed with sophisticated weapons, he added.

If the State Government had the will power and guts to stop such land encroachment, it should not make 'lame excuses' of jurisdiction conflict with the Centre Government on border issues, he said.

He added that if the State Government fails to take up any positive step on the issue, other forms of agitation would be launched and the Govt should be held responsible for any outcome.

President of AMUCO, Dr Mani Khuman said that Nagaland Govt has a tendency to encroach.

He said that only words cannot stop the action of land encroachment by Nagaland and calm the anger of Mao people.

The responsibility of a State Government is to safeguard the territorial integrity.

Such action must be condemned by all sections of the society, he said and added that the Govt must bring a solution at the earliest or the people of Mao may take the matter in their own hands which could spark clash and the result can be catastrophic.

Later, he urged all people of Manipur and other CSOs including transporters to support the State-wide bandh and refrain from any economic activity on that day and support the cause of Mao people.

Meanwhile, Students' Union of Kangleipak has urged all the people and CSOs in the State to support the bandh called against the alleged lethargic attitude of the State Government in tackling the Dzuko valley land encroachment issue.

Further the student organization said that they would extend their fullest support to the State wide bandh.

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