Khoupum protests attack
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23 2015:
Over 4000 people today took out a mass rally to protest shooting of an earth excavator driver of Keystone Pvt Ltd, which is currently engaged in the construction of Tongjei Maril (Khoupum road) at Khoupum in Tamenglong district.
Since early morning, villagers of Khoupum and surrounding villages including large number of womenfolk and students gathered at Gaidimjang playground to take part in the rally.
The rally was jointly organized by Zeliangrong Students' Union, Khoupum area, Khoupum Area Village Authority Council and Lu Phuam (Zeliangrong Women Society) .
The protesters held placards that read 'we want development', 'Zeliangrong people condemn violence', 'we want peace' and 'we support development' etc.
They also shouted slogans like 'we want development', 'arrest the culprits at the earliest' and 'punish the culprits' .
After reaching Thanagong playground, the villagers conducted a public meeting there.
Later, they marched up to Pinjang playground, where another public meeting was conducted.
Pinjang village is located just around half a kilometre away from Nungleiband bridge, where the non-local driver was shot at on his leg by unknown miscreants on December 10.
The meeting was chaired by Khoupum Area Village Authority Council chairman Kangamna Gangmei, Lu Phuam Khoupum area President Mareina, Khoupum Area Village Authority Council vice-chairman Adipou Pamei and Khoupum Area Village Authority Council ex-chairman Achui Kamei.
Achui Kamei while speaking at the meeting said that disturbing the construction of Tongjei Maril by intimidating and attacking the workers is unacceptable as people of Khoupum area have been longing for an all-weather road since the past many years.
As such, people must oppose such violent activities which may hamper development works, he said.
Achui Kamei also urged the organisation concerned not to repeat the incident in the interest of the general public.
Khoupum Area Village Authority Council secretary Chamdinmei Malangmei said that it was the second such protest rally organised at the area.
He said that villagers had also taken out a similar protest rally when an earth excavator was burnt down by unknown persons some time back.