Imphal, February 26: Amid shouting of slogans like 'No to acquisition of more land for airport expansion', 'Don't deprive rights of the people', 'Livelihood should not be bargained with compensation', etc, aggrieved locals of Ningombam set aflame the effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ahmed Patel this afternoon.

Along with beatings of Pung and banging of cymbals to mark a funeral rite, the effigies were burnt in a crematorium of Ningombam Awang Leikai.

Talking to mediapersons on the sideline of the protest, representatives of the JAC formed to protest the move against the acquisition of additional land for expansion of the Tulihal Airport at Imphal said that the statements made by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on the floor of the Assembly yesterday in connection with expansion of the airport deserve strong condemnation.

Even if the people of Manipur want to see development, they would never agree to taking over of their residential land and agricultural field unreasonably, they made it clear.

The Chief Minister should not succumb to the instigation of the Centre to set up an army based here in the name of expansion of the airport at Imphal, the JAC representatives said, while demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister immediately.

In case the State Government does not retract its move of acquiring more land in the name of expansion of the airport, violent agitation can be expected, they warned.

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