Many dam protestors hurt
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 03 2008: AS MANY as 43 persons were hurt today when police baton charged and fired tear gas and mob-dispersion ammunitions to disperse a silent rally of the people affected by the Mapithel dam construction.

The silent rally was organised by the Mapithel Dam Affected Ching Tam Organisation, Thoubal Multipurpose Project highlighting the grievances of the affected people as well as putting pressure on the government to fulfill their demands with regard to the payment of compensation to the affected people.

Among the injured protestors, the condition of a 50-year old woman identified as Lungmila, wife of Algira of Laphong village is said to be serious, according to sources from the hospital where she has been admitted.

An injured woman protestor being attended to by others at Mapithel

When hit by a tear gas shell, the woman fainted and fell down on the ground.

She sustained inuries on her head and other parts of the body.

Police shifted her to the JN Hospital, Porompat where she was later referred to the Shija Hospitals.

She has been kept in the ICU till late tonight.

Among other injured persons, five have been admitted at JN hospital after they were evacuated there by the villagers. The rally which kicked off from Saijang Tangkhul village this morning at around 11 am and marched towards the main gate of the dam construction site after passing through Tumukhong village.

They were prevented by the women police and IRB personnel who were detailed there along with the commando personnel and blocked them from further proceeding.

When there arose a heated exchange of words between the women police and the women rallyists, the women police baton-charge the women.

Later police fired several rounds of tear gas and other mob dispersion ammunitions towards the rallyists and foiled them from marching ahead toward the dam site.

Police also foiled another attempt of a group of protesting women by firing tear gas toward the gathering places in which the 50-year old woman was hit by one of the tear gas shell and fell down on the ground.

Around 1000 villagers of the dam affected year took part in today's rally which was organized by the Mapithel Dam Affected Ching Tam Organisation, Thoubal Multipurpose Project.

The organization taking serious note of the indifferent attitude of the state government and continued suppression of the rights of the indigenous people have been continuing several forms of agitations for justice from the state government.

While highlight the plight of the local people and government indifferent treatment towards the downstream villages which are also affected by the dam construction, a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister on August 3 last which they could not get positive response till date from the government side.