Setting up of sports varsity at Yaithibi Loukon : Public meeting, sit-in protest held
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, November 12 2014: A sit-in protest-cum-public meeting was held at Keishampat Lairembi community hall here on Wednesday during which it was decided to pile the pressure on the Manipur and Central Governments to shift the selected location for construction of the proposed Central sports university for the State.

Several leaders from different social organisations took part in the demonstration spearheaded by the 44-Yaithibi Loukon Land Owners' Association.

The protestors aired their voice against the Manipur Government's plan to set up the sports varsity at Yaithibi Loukon which is a farm land.

Yaithibi Loukon, inhabited by nearly 3,000 people of five different villages�Sora, Koijam, Langthabal Khunou, Yaithibi Khunou and Laiching Khunou�is located under Kakching in Thoubal district.

The 44-Yaithibi Loukon Land Owners' Association has been insisting that the farm land measuring about 600 acre should be used by the five villages for their livelihood.

Setting up of sports varsity at Yaithibi Loukon Public meeting, sit-in protest held

The association president, Md Alimuddin spoke during the sit-in protest-cum-public meeting.

He lamented that despite several agitations over the issue, the State Government has failed to give a positive response to the association till date.

He demanded that the Government choose a suitable site for construction of the sports varsity and let Yaithibi Loukon exist as an agricultural land.

The public meeting decided that if need be the Prime Minister would be urged to intervene in the matter regarding the decision of the State Government to set up the sports varsity at Yaithibi Loukon.

Jt secretary of Yaithibi Loukon Land Owners' Association, Md Najmuddin said a 48-hour bandh was enforced recently along NH-102 to protest setting up of the sports university at Yaithibi Loukon area.

In an attempt to disrupt the bandh, a team of Kakching police entered a Mosque at Sora and dismantled some properties, he alleged while strongly condemning the alleged police action.

The police also opened fire inside a Church at Yaithibi Khunou much to the fear and apprehension of the people, he said.

Md Najmuddin said a series of agitation would be launched against the police for their acts.

Saying that construction of a sports university at the agriculture land would never be allowed, he said the university can be set up at a suitable place without infringing on agriculture land.

PM Narendra Modi would be petitioned in this regard, he added.

He also urged MLA Y Surchandra, MLA D Korungthang and MLA P Brojen to take up measures to cancel the proposal of setting up the sports university as the land falls under the three ACs of the MLAs.