Imphal, September 10, 2009: Around 200 undergrounds armed with sophisticated weapons totally demolished completely a primary health centre at Nongpok Sekmai in Thoubal district occupied by Border Security Force (BSF) last night soon after the force vacate and IRB take over the post.

Strongly decrying the act of unknown underground cadres, villagers staged a sit-in protest condemning the act of destroy the health centre.

Local MLA, M Oken who visited the spot also condemned the act.

The D-Coy BSF of 88th battalion occupying the structure since it was ready for inauguration as a primary health centre vacated yesterday evening around 5.30 pm before the IRB to replace them take post.

The BSF vacated the place to shift them to Naxal violence hit different states.

Earlier, BSF post at Wangjing in Thoubal district, at Ethai and Wangoo in Bishnupur districts have been withdrawn and sent to naxal hit states.

After the withdrawn of the BSF, personnel of the IRB replaced the Wangjing post while CRPF replaced Ethai and Wangoo posts.

Around 200 well armed militants destroyed the structure with all the belongings including medical equipments installed for the health centre last night starting from around 10 pm.

They left the place at about 2 am after completely demolished the structure, according to the villagers.

The undergrounds came to the village in eight tata tippers and before destroying the structure, they first cut off the communication line by shutting down the mobile towers in the village and black out the entire village.

The demolished the structure using the tippers they come with and excavators which are park in the village for making road under the local area development funds.

Infrastructure of the primary health centre worth around Rs 5 lakhs including two vaccine freeze, stabilizer, two compound microscope, six iron goodrej, one oxygen cylinder, one laptop, one Xerox machine, one gas cylinder, two VIP tables, MTP set, laboratory equiptments, water tank along with documents of the health centre have been destroyed.

The structure which functioning of the OPD had started despite occupied by the BSF was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh.

Local MLA, M Oken who inspected the damaged site said that it is a thing not to be done as health care centre is for all.

Health care is mean for all section of the people, underground also treated if they hurt, he said while expressing strong condemnation to the act of the miscreants.

When some villager elders intervened, militants threatened them using hard language which they do not expect from them.

They even threatened to shoot at, a village woman who took part in the protest staged at the village today against the destruction of the health centre said.

"We have no problem when militants fighting with the security forces as a part of their struggle but we could not agree with the act of destruction of the health centre which would be the only place for life saving in this remote village, a village club volunteer said.

Circle MLA, M Oken who also inspected the destruct site strongly condemned the act of the militants but assured the villagers that he will bring up the matter with the chief minister and do the needful for the villagers.

Comment