Several vehicles damaged during bandh at Patsoi
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 26 2010: With the start of the indefinite bandh along the Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-53, bandh supporters attacked and damaged at least seven vehicles, and made an attempt to set on fire an oil tanker.

The indefinite bandh began on NH-53 in Patsoi areas from last midnight.

The bandh has been called by the Yurembam-Patsoi-Tabungkhok Land Protection Demand Committee opposing the move of the State Government to acquire vast areas of paddy fields in the surrounding areas of the 135 KV power sub-station for upgradation of the same to 400 KV sub-station.

The attempt to set on fire the oil tanker was foiled by police who swung into action when protesters started attacking the vehicles plying along the highway this morning.

Protesters at Patsoi blocking the highway while shouting slogans against the government's move to acquire land

The locals gathered on the highway and blocked the traffick at Patsoi areas in Imphal Wes district to put pressure on the government to review the decision to acquire land for the Power Grid Corporation of India, required for upgradation of the Power Sub-station at Yurembam.

The protesters threw stones at the vehicles.

Among the seven vehicles damaged in the attack, were four Maruti vans, two trucks and a Muaruti car.

Police tried to disperse the groups of protesters.

They also removed the impediments, such as burning tyres, wood and tree branches, and ropes of hanging Phaneks, etc.

put up on the highway by the locals.

The protestes battled with the police at various places.

It may noted here that the District Magistrate has already promulgated prohibition orders in the said areas prohibiting assembly of five or more people which is likely to turn unlawful in the areas within the jurisdiction of the Patsoi police station under sub-section 2 of the Section 144 CrPC.

Police fired tear gas shells and used other mob dispersion devices to quell the groups of protesters who retaliated with stones and catapults.

After a brief struggle, police took control of the situation and cleared wood and debris piled up on the road to block the traffic.

Decrying government unmoved despite repeated plea and boycotting public hearing to the proposed expansion the power sub-station the land protection demand committee announced that they would impose indefinite bandh on the stretch of the highway effective from midnight of March 25 .

The indefinite bandh will continue until government review the decision to take over lands from the surrounding of the sub-station, S Hema, convener of the committee spearheading the agitation said.

"We are not satisfied with government while they failed to hear our demands and remain stuck on its stance to go ahead with the land acquisition move.

We had also boycotted public hearings held at two occasions," he said.

Manipur government is determined to give additional land required by the National Hydro-electric Power Grid Corporation of India for upgradation of the existing 135 KV sub-station into a 400 KV for putting up a 400 KV DC line from Silchar (Assam) so that the power shortage problem in the state could be improved to some extents.