Moreh bandh to demand clear demarcation starts
Source: The Sangai Express
Moreh, February 18 2011:
An indefinite bandh on Imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 has begun since last midnight in protest against the Government's failure to distinctly demarcate the boundaries between Kwatha village and Leibi village.A large number of Kwatha villagers came out of their village and blocked NH-39 near Kwatha Lamkhai and Khudengthabi.
Due to the bandh, all vehicular movement between Imphal and Moreh has been suspended.
Speaking to media persons, ex-secretary of Kwatha Village Authority Kh Yaima said that boundary disputes between Kwatha village and Leibi has been pending in Civil Court since 2003 .
Later, the case was taken to Gauhati High Court which issued a ruling on November 10 last year directing the Government to make a clear demarcation between the two villages.
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Accordingly, Government officials together with some Kwatha villagers went to the disputed site for demarcation but the same exercise had to be aborted due to strong objection by Leibi villagers.
Some members of Kwatha village authority were also assaulted by Leibi villagers, Yaima said.
The incident happened when village authority members and Government officials including officials of Settlement office, SDC Moreh Ph Ibohal, Additional SP Y Ashokkumar, SDPO M Rameshwar and Moreh OC O Doren went to the site for demarcation.
After this incident, the Chandel DC issued an order for demarcation on February 10, 2011 but the same exercise has been postponed till March 9, 2011 .
Even as restrictions have been imposed under Section 144 of CrPC at the disputed site, Leibi villagers have been openly defying the restrictions by felling trees and collecting firewood freely.
Saying that Kwatha villagers are against any communal conflict, the ex-secretary appealed to the Government to Manipur to resolve the issue amicably at the earliest.