Tension at Kangchup; 3 offices burned, 6 hurt
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 05 2010: Protestors today burnt down at least three government offices at Kangchup Chingkhong constructed at the disputed land at the border between the Sadar hill and Imphal west district even as five women and a policeman injured when police swung into action the control escalation of the violent activities of the mob.

Residents of Phayeng and Kadangban burnt down the offices of the Sadar Hill alleging that areas where the offices constructed are within the Imphal west district and decrying inclusion of the areas into Sadar hill today morning during a down to dusk bandh imposed on the Imphal-Kangchup road.

Starting from 6 am of today womenfolk in large number took to the streets and blocked the road as part of enforcing the bandh.

Women demolishing of building at Kangchup

During the bandh hour, at about 8 am stormed the government offices located at Kangchup Chingkhong and burnt down three government offices, one high school, a veterinary office and a public health sub-centre located at the disputed area at Kangchup Chingkhong.

The buildings were totally gutted before the fire fighters backed by a team of police led by SDPO, Lamphel Pushpanjali could reach and put the fire under control.

Office documents of the offices have also been reduced to ashes, a police report said.

In the escalating violence incidents, at least five women protestors and a police man sustained injuries in the police bid to disperse a mob rose up today targeting an SDO office of Sadar hill at Kangchup foothill this afternoon.

The five women sustained injuries when police fired tear gas and used mob dispersion devises to control the mob from attacking the SDO office while the policeman hurt in the stoning from the mob.

Mob stoned at the police when they attempted to take away 29 women detained by them for trying to ransack the SDO office.

According to the villagers, some areas of Phayeng and Kadangban within the Imphal west district are found included within the Sadar hill in the new revenue map published by the state revenue department.

Villages of Phayeng Khunou, Phayeng Chingkhunou, Tairenpokpi Chingkhunou, Koutruk, Kangchup and villagers under Kandangban like Singda, Khadangban part-I are within the Imphal West revenue district.

However, in the latest revenue map of the state, the said areas were kept under Sadar hills jurisdiction, a village leader revealed.

The process has hurt the sentiments of the villager badly, he said adding that a group of people of a tribe settling at Kangchup hill started encroaching at the areas.

When given objection, heated arguments erupted which created tension among the villagers.

The inclusion of some portion of Phayeng and Kadangban within the Sadar hill is like snatching one's ready to eat food by another one.

Villagers are against the government move, he added.

Even though the Kangchup hill is within the Imphal west district, various offices of the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council and hence the people of the area are taking double benefits from the government welfare schemes.

"We are not demanding the tribal in the area to leave the place.

We only demanded that the land should be within the revenue district of Imphal west.

The government neglected attitude has created unnecessary tension among the people," the pradhan of the village observed.