ASP hurt as demarcation process turns violent
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, April 07 2022: Around 4/5 people and some police personnel including Kakching district additional SP sustained injuries when a clash broke out between police and local residents during land demarcation process at Yaithibi Loukol in Thoubal district on Thursday.

The clash broke out when the locals opposed the land demarcation process at Sora Ching Wangma area near Yaithibi Loukol.

Since the wee hours Thursday, government officials along with machineries escorted by a large number of police personnel tried to demarcate the land, which was earlier acquired for setting up the National Sports University, in connection with construction of a proposed Mega Food Park.

However, local residents strongly opposed the land demarcation at Sora Ching Wangma including Masjid and several dwelling houses and informed government officials to stop the land demarcation process.

As land demar cation process continued while ignoring local people's pressure, the clash broke out between police and local residents.

Around 4/5 people were injured when police fired tear gas shells and unleashed stun grenades trying to disperse the agitating people while some personnel including additional SP Kakching too suffered slingshot injuries.

As per report available from the spot, a team of government officials led by SDO Thoubal's assistant settlement officer conducted land demarcation on the Sora Ching Wangma side of 44-Yaithibi Loukol from early morning.

The team escorted by a large number of police personnel from Thoubal and Kakching used machineries to dig the earth for fencing after demarcating the area.

As the land demarcation continued at several areas which were not acquired for construction of the sports university, some locals including Kakching Zilla Parishad Upa Adhakshya Md Najimuddin told government officials to cease the land demarcation process and insisted that the process be resumed after reaching an understanding with local people.

However, government officials ignored the suggestion and continued the land demarcation and fencing process.

As local people started obstructing the land demarcation process, police fired tear gas shells and stun grenades while the locals retaliated with stone pelting and slingshots which led to injuries on both the sides.

Additional SP Kakching had some stitches on his head while some police personnel with minor injuries were given first aid at Thoubal district hospital.

Some 4/5 residents of Sora Ching Wangma also sustained injuries and one of them namely Md Abdul Hashim (23) son of Md Abdulla had 4/5 stitches.

The situation worsened at about 1.30 pm as large number of people gathered on NH-102 (Imphal-Moreh) road and started blocking the road thereby affecting traffic movement.

However, the agitation ended after the demarcation and fencing process stopped and authorities assured of not going ahead with the demarcation and fencing process until reaching an understanding with local residents.

Meanwhile, 44-Yaithibi Loukol Farmers' & Land Owners' Development Association stated that an attempt to forcibly demarcate land at 44-Yaithibi Loukol for construction of mega food park in the wee hours of Thursday was foiled by farmers and local residents.

A large team of government officials led by AS/SO Thoubal Ningthembi escorted by large number of police personnel from Thoubal and Kakching districts came for land demarcation at about 3.30 am Thursday but the land demarcation could not be conducted, a statement of the Association said and strongly condemned forcible act of the government.

People residing around Yaithibi Loukol and civil society organisations of the state had already announced ban on taking up development work at Yaithibi Loukol and accordingly opposed Thursday's attempt to forcibly demarcate the land, the Association reasoned and appealed to government not to initiate process for land demarcation again.

It also reminded the government about the Conservation of Paddy Land & Wetland Act, 2014 and Yaithibi Loukol falls under this Act.

The Association also appealed to chief minister N Biren to initiate steps to conduct a joint survey involving department concerned, local leader and local people in view of the present situation at Yaithibi Loukol so that the ban imposed on sale, transfer and payment of land tax at the area could be lifted.

It also urged government to help local people in maintaining peace.

Meanwhile, International Human Rights Protection and Anti-Corruption Bureau India, Manipur state president Zulfiqar Alam Sheikh has strongly condemned the forcible act of trying to demarcate land at 44-Yaithibi Loukol in the wee hours of Thursday.

According to a statement of Zulfiqar Alam Sheikh, a large number of police personnel escorted government officials and attempted to demarcate the land at 44-Yaithibi Loukol much to the surprise of local people.

Condemning forcible act of the government, Alam Sheikh appealed to government and authority concerned to initiate land requisition process after reaching an understanding with land owners in a peaceful manner as forcible act might lead to unwanted incident.

He then appealed to government not to incite land owners and local people, who are currently undergoing Ramzan fast, to another round of agitation.

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