Community hall site sparks stand off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 25 2018: People from five different localities of Kongpal stormed Kongpal Student Club ground and stopped a meeting organised in connection with the construction of a community hall at the ground after MLA Leishangthem Sushindro (Yaima) allegedly used abusive and offensive words against the people of Kshetrigao Assembly Constituency, today afternoon.

Speaking to media persons, the irate locals of the area informed that the elders of Kongpal Kshetri Leikai, Naoreibam Leikai, Chanam Leikai, Khaidem Leikai and Khongkham Leikai, have been protecting the ground since the early days and the ground has been looked after by the apex club of the five localities, the Kongpal Students Club, from 1960 onwards (the club also has the dag chita of the ground) .

Community hall site sparks stand off

A few months back, some of the locals of Khongkham Leikai, brought up the proposal for the construction of a community hall at the ground and the club gave the approval for the construction of the community hall on the northern side of Standard English School (which is located on the southern part of the ground).

The locals informed that from the next day onwards, soil were deposited in the allotted area of the ground for the construction of the community hall and on the next day, the father of MLA Sushindro laid the foundation stone, as the MLA was out of station at the time.

But surprisingly, the executive members of the club and the locals noticed that the construction work had been shifted to the northernmost part of the ground, while organising the club's Yaoshang sports event.

Stung by the development, the club members and the people of the five localities, organised a meeting in connection with the shifting of the construction site without informing the Kongpal Students Club.

The locals claimed that Imphal East district police personnel had prevented the locals from using loud speakers during the said meeting, although loud speakers were used openly during today's meeting.

The locals further informed that during their earlier meeting, numerous resolutions were passed, including submission of a memorandum to Imphal East DC, shifting the construction of the community hall to the space approved by the club or block the construction work, to pressure the authority concerned to find out who uploaded the Kongpal Students' Club ground in the name of KKLYDO in Google (KKLYDO was formed a few years back) and to punish those involved.

The locals claimed that today afternoon, Khurai BJP MLA, L Sushindro, held a meeting at the ground under tight security, along with some local members of Kongpal Kongpham Leikai, using loud speakers.

During his speech, the MLA allegedly used abusive and offensive words against the locals of Kshetrigao Assembly Constituency and allegedly termed them as dogs, after which the irate locals immediately stormed the meeting venue resulting in the MLA fleeing from the spot with his personal escort party.

The contractors handling the construction of the community hall and some workers of Sushindro also drove away their vehicles in a hurry.

The locals claimed that only Khongkham Leikai, out of the five localities, falls under Khurai AC while the remaining fall under Kshetrigao AC.

They further demanded the MLA to clarify on his choice of words regarding the people of Kshetrigao AC.

According to a reliable source, a large number of police personnel, including women police of Imphal East district, have been deployed in the area to prevent any kind of untoward incident.

Large number of locals are still gathered in the ground, the source added.