Imphal, March 12: Even as the JAC against acquisition of land for Tulihal Airport expansion has launched its agitation to seal the airport for three days today, normal flight service was not affected.However, a massive protest agitation was launched the people of Ningombam there.

Moreover, effigy of Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel was burnt in protest against the airport expansion move.

Taking serious note of the JAC's announcement to seal Imphal airport for three days starting from today, additional security personnel were deployed in the surrounding area of the airport and extra preemptive measures were taken up.

On the other hand, to thwart any attempt of the Government to measure land for expansion of Tulihal Airport complex, a large number of local people blocked the Ningombam road since this morning and staged a protest sitting.

This resulted in a tussle between the protesters and police.

Briefing media persons on the issue, JAC publicity secretary Athokpam Dineshwar reminded that for development of the Tulihal airport in 1960, people of Ningombam, Malom and Kodompokpi donated land for it.

This was followed by acquisition of land piece by piece from time to time.

And now the airport covers more than 600 acres of land.

Any more attempt to acquire land will lead to dire consequences, he warned.

Against the move of the Government to acquire another 512 acres of land, the JAC has submitted memoranda to the Governor and the Chief Minister.

But the JAC was never given a chance by the Chief Minister to talk directly on the issue.

Asserting that the Government should pay due attention to genuine grievances and apprehensions of the people, the JAC publicity secretary observed that the Government's plan to acquire settlement areas along with the houses is murderous.

To acquire some more acres of land after fully developing the existing space of airport compound is acceptable but the JAC and the people cannot accept the Government's plan to acquire such large areas of land including agricultural fields, settlement areas, schools, dispensaries and religious sites.

Dineshwar further appealed to all air service ticket counters and agents not to sell flight tickets for the three days during which the JAC has already announced to seal Imphal airport.

Reacting strongly to the statement of the Civil Aviation Minister that airport modernisation programme will be completed by 2010, people of Ningombam set afire effigy of the Union Minister.

Yet, despite the JAC's agitation to seal the airport, there was no normal flight service at Imphal airport today.

Meanwhile, the All India Youth Federation has strongly condemned the reported act of police commandos pulling up civilians and firing tear gas shells to Meira Paibis in connection with the agitation against Imphal airport expansion.

It also demanded unconditional release of the arrested individuals.

Citing the examples of Goa and Mizoram, the federation proposed to construct airport in hills.

It further observed that usurpation of agricultural fields in the valley area in the name of modernisation will lead to further deficiency of food grains in the State.