Imphal, April 30 2009: VILLAGERS OF Hiyanglam and Arong areas today staged sit-in protest decrying the alleged ban imposed by an underground group in developing a road connecting Hiyanglam Hiranmei and Arong.

The sit-in protest was carried out at two places, at Hiyanglam Hiranmei community hall and Arong Khunou Awang Leikai (also known as Dabloo khong).

The protest at Hiyanglam Hiranmei community was organized by Hiyanglam Meira Paibi Apunba Lup while that of Arong Khunou was organized by Dabloo Khong and Laphupat Tera Apunba Meira Paibi Lup.

A total of 500 womenfolk took part in the two protests staged at the different places.

As expressed by the womenfolk participating in the sit-in protest, the improvement works of the said road connecting Hiyanglam Hiranmei with Arong village was commenced sometimes back and targeted to complete by March this year.

But, due to interference by a particular underground group the works have been suspended.

Activists of the underground outfit threatened the contractor to burn down the vehicles and other machines use in the road improvement works.

Since then, the works have been suspended, they alleged.

Reportedly, after bringing an agreement between the contractor and the underground group behind the ban, the works commenced from April 27 last but the same was again banned from the next day, the womenfolk added.

It is a very unfortunate thing to give disturbances by the underground group in taking up developmental and welfare works of the people, they commented saying that the proposed road is to be the lifeline of the villagers residing in the area.

"We will go on protest till the particular underground group lift the ban imposed in the improvement works of the road," they unanimously in one voice said.

Slogans like "Don't interfere in taking up developmental works, no hindrance in improving road communication network, let's allow us to reach our produces to the market, allow us live in a develop society like other, we want to connect with the develop city and town, road is our livelihood etc." were displayed at the protest site.

Even though, the protestors alleged a particular underground group, they don't mention the name of the outfit that allegedly imposing ban during the protest.

The said road is around 3.85 km long and has a width of 5 meter and state authority earmarked Rs 1.79 lakh under Special Plan Assistant (SPA) during the financial year 2008-09 .

So far the improvement works to a stretch of 1.5 km have been completed.

In the provision of the improvement works, it includes construction culvert and earth work but no provision for black topping.

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