Hearing on re-mapping starts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 15 2011: The first public hearing of the Committee on Re-organisation of Administrative and Police District Boundaries was held today in the office chamber of the Chief Secretary at Old Secretariat.

The public hearing chaired by the Chief Secretary was attended by the DGP, top ranking officials of Revenue Department and leaders of Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front, Zeliangrong Students' Union, Land Protection Committee, Sekmai Kendra and the Tamenglong Kuki Chiefs Association.

Even though DIPR informed the media to cover the hearing, media persons on reaching the Chief Secretary's office were denied permission to cover the hearing.

With the hearing held inside closed doors, leaders of different civil society organisations were called in one by one to give their opinions and suggestions.

The hearing wound up for today after recording the opinions/suggestions of only five leaders of different civil organisations.

Representatives of Zeliangrong Union, Tomching Chingshang and Shambung Chingshang areas and many others who came to attend the public hearing were not given any opportunity to share their views/opinions.

Participants coming out after putting in their opinion at the Hearing on re-mapping

Zeliangrong Union president Amu Kamei told media persons who were waiting outside the Chief Secretary's office chamber that the selective treatment of the committee was condemnable.

Saying that they came from far off places for the hearing, spending large amount of money, time and energy, Amu Kamei decried the act of allowing only two/three organisations to give their opinions/suggestions.

He also questioned if the committee has any hidden agenda.

He asserted that the committee should hear views of all organisations.

Merits and demerits of each opinion should be examined first before arriving at any decision.

Otherwise holding public hearing inside closed doors would only turn out to be open invitation for another violent uproar.

Coming out from the hearing, ZYF president Tinzelun told the media persons that he pleaded before the committee to bring back the areas into the fold of Tamenglong district which were earlier separated from their parent district and placed under Sadar Hills.

There are around 70 villages of Tamenglong district which have been placed under Churachandpur district and Sadar Hills.

These villages should be brought back to Tamenglong district when the reorganisation of boundaries is effected.

To a specific query, the ZYF president maintained that no Zeliangrong villages located close to Churachandpur or Bishnupur district would choose not to be part of Tamenglong district.

Land Protection Committee Sekmai Kendra secretary W Jotin said that around 50 percent of nine villages which were earlier part of Imphal West district have been placed under Sadar Hills.

"I pleaded before the committee to bring back all these villages under Imphal West district", Jotin conveyed.

Erstwhile Imphal West villages like Tairenpokpi, Phayeng, Chakpa Phayeng, Kangchup, Kadangband, Koutruk, Senjam Chirang and Khurkhul were arbitrarily put under Sadar Hills after setting up some Kuki settlements in and around these villages.

"Now Kuki armed cadres have patrolling around these villages and, at times intimidating innocent villagers", Jotin said.

The second public hearing would be held on September 17 at 10 am at the same venue.

Interested persons who had applied for attending the public hearings but could not attend the same may appear during the second hearing, said a press release issued by Under Secretary (revenue) H Balkrishna.