Imphal, December 01: The otherwise sleepy and peaceful Kasom Khullen sub-division in Ukhrul district today erupted in pent up fury and anger over the prolonged neglect of the Govt and a large number of people came out and ransacked the offices of the SDO, SDC and the family quarters of these offices.

Clearly peeved over the years of Govt neglect and apathy, the villagers came out in hordes and stormed the offices of the two officers, SDO M Munindro Singh and SDC A Shivadash Sharma today at about 12.30 pm, accusing them of spending most of their time at the Ukhrul district headquarters instead of looking after the needs of the sub-division.

Significantly the two officials were not present when the villagers stormed their offices.

Prior to the attack on the offices, a public rally was organised by the Kasom Khullen Sub-Division Development Committee from the bus parking till the Primary Health Centre.

During the rally, the people carried placards demanding their rights as citizens of Manipur and restoration of power supply.

They also demanded the repairing of the Imphal-Kasom Khullen road and black topping the same and also to post the required man power at the PHC and make it functional.

After the rally a public meeting was held at the bus parking where a number of resolutions were taken.

The resolutions included continuing with the closure of Govt offices and ban on movement of passenger buses, which was enforced from November 26.The meeting also resolved to intensify the agitation if their demands are not met by December 6.The people also demanded the immediate transfer of the SDO and SDC from the sub-division.

Later speaking to a group of media persons, general secretary of Kasom Khullen Sub-Division Development Committee, Jajo Robertson said that the village has not been receiving power supply since October 15, 2002.Since power supply has snapped, all the telecom facilities installed there are also not operational.

A memorandum to then Power Minister was submitted on January 10 this year to look into the matter, he informed.

The Primary Health Centre is also yet to be inaugurated; he said and added that no staff has been posted there.

All the basic requirements of the health centre are yet to be installed, he added.

Angered by the negligence, the people have locked up the PHC, he added.

Clearly angered over the prolonged negligence of the Sub-Division, the Committee had decided to impose a bandh from June 12 till June 15 this year; informed Jajo but the Government intervened and the Chief Minister himself assured that power supply will be restored within 20 days time.

The Chief Minister also assured that the all the requirements of the PHC will be met and the inauguration function will be held before June 10 this year, said Jajo.

Promises were also made that the Imphal-Kasom Khullen road would be repaired in good time.

However the Government has been sleeping over its promises and it forced the Committee to launch its agitation from November 26, he added.

The media persons while on their return trip to Imphal came across the SDO and the SDC coming together in a vehicle.

The SDO refused to give any comment to the media but the SDC said that the allegations hurled against them the people were not true.

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