Protesters picket DCs office, reject CM's missive
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, September 07 2021: After picketing of Kangpokpi DC office on Monday, angry protesters on Tuesday continued raising their demand for removal of the present deputy commissioner at the earliest.

The protesters closed all business establishments in the town and also sealed the entire campus of Kangpokpi DC office to show their resentment.

A large number of people including women locked the entry gate to the DC office and staged a sit-in protest.

Posters inscribed "We Want New DC, "Go Out Somorjit Salam", "Constitution Protects Us, Somorjit Dupes Us", "Hello CM, Regard 371C, Stop Hill Grabbing", etc, were also pasted on the gate and walls.

Charging the Kangpokpi DC with creating confusion and scuffle over land matters and other issues in the district, the protesters stuck to their demand to oust Somorjit Salam from Kangpokpi while demanding a new district administrator who can work purely for the development and welfare of the people.

"Somorjit Salam, as well known by the public, had been thrown out from Senapati for his unethical behaviours as a bureaucrat, but people of Kangpokpi, showing immense humanity, welcomed him with the hope that he would reform himself and work fair-mindedly for the welfare and development of the people, but nothing has changed on his part," said a protesting woman.

Another protester said that Somorjit never regarded the public sentiment and public leaders, and this was proven on Monday when he raised his hand to slap one of the Kuki Inpi leaders.

"We do not accept him anymore as our district administrator and we will not allow him to occupy the DC seat anymore," the protester added, Kuki Women's Union, Sadar Hills president Mawinu said, "No other issues will be discussed now until Somorjit Salam is removed from Kangpokpi as DC and a new one is posted." She added that the campus of DC Kangpokpi will remain sealed as "we have unanimously decided not to allow him to enter the office anymore" .

"Somorjit Salam is the devilish villain for the people Kangpokpi who can be a powerless DC for the welfare of the people but more powerful than the chief minister in hurting public sentiments", Mawinu remarked.

Representatives of Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi, SAHILCA, KWU Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District Joint Chiefs' Coordinating Committee on Land Matters, KSO Sadar Hills, TSA Sadar Hills, AMGSU Kalapa har Unit, KTC, KWWO and KYU also participated in the protest to oust DC Somorjit Salam from Kangpokpi.

Meanwhile, a reliable source informed that chief minister N Biren had sent a representative to meet the chiefs' association and ver bally agreed to have a meeting at 5 pm on Wednesday to discuss matters related to the highway expansion.

However, after learning about the information, the irate protesters made it clear that no leaders should participate in any meeting and discuss any issues including the highway expansion issue until the DC is transferred from thedistrict.

It was also said that the public leaders decided to abstain from attending the proposed meeting and decided to hold talk with authorities only after DC Somorjit has been replaced.

Meanwhile, the demonstrators warned that anyone found breaking the sealed gate shall be held responsible for any untoward incident.

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