AMTDGF calls off blockade; two released, two held
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kpi/Spt, November 04 2022:
All Manipur Tribals Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) has on Friday called off its indefinite economic blockade along National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dima-pur) and National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) with immediate effect.
The Forum had announced imposition of indefinite economic blockade from November 3 midnight along the two national highways in protest against alleged government's failure to release Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) funds amounting to Rs 756 crore.
However, the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department had clarified that the state government had received Rs 756.50 crore for MGNREGS which is meant for all 16 districts of the state, and out of the total amount sanctioned, Rs 100 crore had been disbursed and allocated to all the districts irrespective of whether they are in the hills or the valley.
The department had also informed that an additional amount of Rs 150 crore will be released soon followed by the remaining amount in due course of time.
Speaking to media persons on Friday morning, AMTDGF vice president Seikhosat Kipgen formally declared that the indefinite economic blockade has been called off with immediate effect following the assurance given by the department concerned to release an additional amount of Rsl50 crore under MGNREGS to all the 16 districts and the remaining amount in phase wise manner within January 2023.He further appealed to the state government to release all the executive members and blockade supporters detained by the police without any condition and also to withdraw the arrest warrant issued against the AMTDGF executives.
Seikhosat Kipgen further conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to all blockade supporters and denizens of Manipur for their support to the AMTDGF's movement in the larger interest of MGNREGS job card holders of the state.
Meanwhile, some leaders of the Forum including its finance secretary, information secretaries, and few executives from Kangpokpi and Senapati were reportedly detained by police since Thursday evening.
On the other hand, no stranded vehicles ferrying essential commodities were seen along the NH 2 in Senapati and Kangpokpi district on Friday with trucks moving freely towards Dimapur and Imphal but in minimal numbers.
Meanwhile, two executives of All Manipur Tribals Development Grievances Forum (AMTDGF), who were arrested by Senapati district police, have been released on bail after they were produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Senapati on Friday.
The two are AMTDGF finance secretary M Heni (64), son of B Maikho of Khabung Karong village, and information & publicity secretary Mark Prou (39), son of (L) Padzii of Kodom Khavii village.
They were arrested in connection with the indefinite economic blockade imposed from midnight of November 3.According to police sources, both were charged with committing a criminal conspiracy other than a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence, intent to cause or likely to cause fear or alarm among the public or any section of the public, criminal intimidation, wrongful restrain, disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant and member of an unlawful assembly.
Hence, a Suo Moto case was registered against them at the Senapati police station for further investigation.
After the arrest, the duo was produced before the Court on Friday, which then granted bail to them.
Meanwhile, a team of Lamphel police station arrested two members of AMTDGF, who were later remanded to 4 days in police custody by a local court.
The two arrested members have been identified as Zeiriamkhou Kamei (54) s/o Hopuiang of Namkaolong Keikai, Tamenglong and Namdigiang Balang alais Daimei (63) s/o (L) Khanglanang Balang of Kabui Khullen, Noney.
Zeiriamkhou Kamei is the member of AMTDGF Tamenglong district and Namdigiang Balang of the Noney unit.
According to police report, Lamphel Police had registered a case in connection with the indefinite economic blockade.
A team of Lamphel PS arrested Zeiriamkhou Kamei from Langol Tarung and Namdigiang Balang from Hotel Millennium, Thangal Bazar.
They were produced before the court of CJM Imphal West, which then remanded them to police custody for 4 days till November 7 for further questioning.
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