Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 27 2010:
Along with blocking Imphal-Leimakhong Road and taking out a protest demonstration yesterday, residents of Khurkhul have strongly objected to the move of including 38-Khurkhul within the jurisdiction of the proposed Sadar Hill district.
Flagging off the protest demonstration from Khurkhul Lamkhai, the rallyists were proceeding toward Leimakhong when the people of area came out to stop the rally.
This led to a brief confrontation and tension between the two parties.
The situation, however, was brought under control with the arrival of the security personnel.
During the protest demonstration, the rallyists carried placards and shouted slogans like 'The gazette of Manipur Hills Department is unacceptable', '38-Khurkhul should not be dismembered', 'Leimakhong cannot be under Sadar Hills', 'We oppose conduct of District Council election at Leimakhong and opening of polling stations', etc.
Prior to taking out the protest demonstration organised by Apunba Khurkhul Nupi Chaokhat Lup under the banner of '83 Khurkhul village is not a part of Sadar Hills, no polling station can be opened here', the local residents came out in large number since early morning to block the Imphal-Leimakhong road at three different points namely Khurkhul Lamkhai, Imoinu Bazar and Senjam Chirang.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, Kh Dhanapati of Apunba Khurkhul Nupi Chaokhat Lup pointed that 38-Khurkhul has always been a part of Imphal West.
In the Gazette of the Government of Manipur published on February 5, 1962, 38-Khurkhul was not under Senapati district nor under Sadar Hill.
However, in the gazette published by the Hill Department of the Government, land areas of 38 Khurkhul have been demarcated under different names as Leimakhong, Henjang, Ch Ebenzer, Electricity Power House and a notification had been issued declaring inclusion of these areas under Sadar Hills.
On the basis of this notification, polling station 13/3 of the ADC Sadar Hills was set up at Leimakhong today, Dhanapati said.
On the other hand, president of Leimakhong Area Women Society S Moinu, who was among those trying to stop the protest demonstration of the Khurkhul denizens, observed that the issue should be taken up with the Government but any efforts to disturb the election to the Autonomous District Council in Leimakhong area is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Senjam Khunou and Senjam Chirang Joint Development Organisation has strongly objected to changing the name of Haraoching into Haraothel and setting up a polling station of the ADC Sadar Hill.
The said land had been dedicated to the people of Senjam Khunou and Senjam Chirang by the State Durbar in 1925, the Organisation has asserted.