Imphal, July 22 2009: Decision has been taken not to allow migrant workers to stay in Awang Sekmai area without the permanent residential certificates issued by the Deputy Commissioners concerned and the police verification report declaring them of not having involved in any crimes in the past.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at Awang Sekmai Community Health Centre today morning, secretary of Luwangbung Development Association (LDA), Awang Sekmai Kh Robin pointed out that incident of crimes has been on the rise in Awang Sekmai since 2000 as a result of the increase in the population of migrant workers.

People of Awang Sekmai have no opposition as such to people coming in reach of livelihood, but in view of the increasing crimes, LDA would join hands with other social organisations like Sekmai Schedule Caste Development Committee, Sekmai Nagar Panchayat and Sekmai Advanced Women Society in conducting verification drive to identify the migrant workers staying in Awang Sekmai and their number.

After completion of the drive, the migrant workers would be given one week's time to go to their respective places and get the residential certificate issued by the Deputy Commisioners concerned and the police verification report.

Without these documents, they would not be allowed to stay in Awang Sekmai area, Robin said.

Recalling the incident of stealing and desecrating the temple of Ibudhou Koubru and Ima Lairembi Koujeng Leima Lairembi by one Ranbir s/o of Ningthoujam Jayanta of Laphupat Tera Mayai Leikai but staying in a rented house in Awang Sekmai in connection with work, Robin inforrmed that after a joint meeting of various organisations has decided not to allow the family of th accused to stay in Awang Sekmai area for 10 years.

The family has been given the deadline of July 25 to leave.

The joint decision should not be seen as an affront to the family members of Jayanta but as a precautionary step towards ensuring such similar acts are not repeated by the migrant workers living on rent in Awang Sekmai area, he added.

Chairperson of Awang Sekmai Nagar Panchayat L Chaobi who was also present at the press conference observed that none of the local people and the organisations have any idea about the identity of the migrant workers staying in Awang Sekmai area nor the migrant workers identified themselves at the time of coming to stay in the area.

But at the time of crime, everyone looked upon the people of Sekmai as if they were responsible for allowing them to stay.

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