Bandh cuts short MHRC's Noney visit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 19 2024: Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Chairperson Justice UB Saha, who had planned to hold meeting with Government officials and civil society organisations in Noney, has cancelled his visit to the district due to bandh and landslides along National Highway-37 (Imphal-Jiribam road) .

The MHRC Chairperson and his team, accompanied by DIG Range-IV Ningshen Worngam were en-route to Noney, but they were stopped at Khonglong Part-II village due to bandh enforced by the Rongmei Naga Council Manipur.

The RNCM had called the indefinite bandh demanding an alternative administrative arrangement for minority Naga communities in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur.

Dozens of Naga villages currently under Churachandpur and Kangpokpi have urged the Government to merge them into Noney district.

When the MHRC's team were stopped at Khonglong Part-II village, the protesters shared their grievances and aspirations with Chairperson Justice UB Saha.

The protesters informed the MHRC chief that the villagers are facing tremendous difficulties accessing their district Headquarters at Kangpokpi, which is very far away from their village.

They said merging the village with Noney which is much closer would benefit the villagers.

The MHRC Chairperson heard the protesters and advised them to assert their grievances at an appropriate redressal forum.

Respecting their right to protest and raise legitimate demands, the MHRC team returned to Imphal.

On the way back, the MHRC team inspected Patsoi police station in Imphal West district.

At the police station, the MHRC team found 537 cases including those registered back in 1999 pending for investigation.

Following the inspection, the MHRC Chairperson spoke to IGP Zone-I asking him to look after the pending cases so that the police could expedite the investigation.

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