Sadar Hills bandh ends, highway bandh on
Source: The Sangai Express

KPI/Imphal, May 08 2015 : Even as the 24 hour bandh called by KSO Sadar Hills in connection with the alleged life attempt on the Lalhoiphai village chief and a van driver who had been grievously beaten at Moidangpok on May 2 and land allotment for Cultural University at L Tangnaum village cut off the State capital with other parts of the world along National Highway 2 today, public curfew imposed by the Meitei National Front, South East Asia (MNFSEA) along Imphal-Jiribam highway is still in force.

Normal life along the Trans Asian Highway No 1 or NH-2 between Taphou Kuki and Gamgiphai has been severely affected due to the strike since all business establishments and educational institutions remained shut for the day.

A large numbers of volunteers were seen blocking the highway at Taphou Kuki and Gamgiphai while large numbers of loaded trucks have been stranded at Hengbung Taxation Check Post along with some passenger vehicles.

All business establishment and educational institutions were also closed at Kangpokpi and even local private vehicles stayed off the road while Government offices wore deserted looks.

Similar situation was also witnessed at Taphou Kuki, Kalapahar, Keithelmanbi, Sapormeina, Motbung and Gamgiphai along the highway.

However, there is no report of any untoward incident during the bandh till the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the executive body meeting of the KSO, Sadar Hills along with Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills and other CSOs within Sadar Hills decided to give three days time for the Government to address their charter of demand while resolving to launch indefinite economic blockade from midnight of May 11 .

On the other hand, extending solidarity to the public curfew announced by MNFSEA, members of Moidangpok-Keithelmanbi Land Protection Committee, Keithelmanbi Development Association and Apunba Meitei Leima Meira Paibi and local people of Moidangpok and Keithelmanbi were seen gathered together at Keithelmanbi.

Taking serious note of the situation, police teams kept strict vigil so as to thwart any untoward incident.

Moidangpok-Keithelmanbi Land Protection Committee vice-president Yengkhom Kunjeshore maintained that they do not recognise Lalhoiphai village.

Lalhoiphai village is not even 10 years old and it does not have any chief or Khullakpa.

The said area is a grazing ground of Moidangpok-Keithelmanbi.

The area covering 10 hectares is also known as Moidangpok CRPF Magazine Camp.

According to land records and maps, the area belongs to Imphal West district.

Kunjeshore said that they would go to Court to settle the dispute once and for all.

A platoon of 1st IRB was seen deployed at the disputed site and two barracks were being constructed but there was no sign of building new dwelling houses.

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