Release the impounded JCB, demands sit in at Salungpham
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, October 28 2020: Demanding unconditional release of JCB which was impounded by Heirok Police on October 27 for digging out a portion of Wangjing to Salungpham road stretch as a protest, a sit-in protest was staged today at Salungpham Mayai Leikai, today.

It may be mentioned that irate locals of Salungpham dug the road stretch, yesterday, protesting prolonged non-repair of the road.

During the demonstration, protestors condemned the police actions in yesterday's incident where at least 3 locals of Salungpham Mayai Leikai were injured.

Release the impounded JCB, demands sit in at Salungpham

It is reported that the police also fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and damaged a few doors and windows of residents of Salungpham Maning Leikai.

The three injured individuals are Sarangthem Naoba (33),S/o Ingobi; Ningthoujam Sobita (45) W/o Gopen and Sarangthem Ashakumar (34) S/o Nokul.

Placards that read "We condemn firing of tear gas shells in a public place"; ''We condemn police 'atrocity' against meira paibi"; and ''We condemn seizure of JCB" among others.

Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the protest demonstration, one Ningthoujam Ibemhal said that the portion of the road was dug out as repeated requests to repair it have always been disregarded by the Government.

He also demanded the State Government and authority concerned to release the JCB, compensate for the damaged properties and injury caused to individuals due to police actions.

He also appealed to Chief Minister N Biren to look into the matter and repair the said road the earliest.

Don't knock down the road: SDC
Meanwhile, the Salungpham Development Committee (SDC) has appealed all to refrain from knocking down the lone road of Salungpham.

In a statement, the committee said that a meeting was convened today and discussed in length the pathetic conditions of Wangjing to Ningel road, which passes through Salungpham.

Continuing that the local MLA of Heirok Assembly constituency has assured to repair the road, it maintained that blacktopping works had already begun in a portion of the road, however, the works stopped due to the pandemic and weather conditions.

The statement also claimed that Dr Thokchom Radheshyam had already assured the volunteers of United Club Organisation (UCO) to repair the road.