Meira paibis dismantle RIMS barricade
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 23 2024: In denunciation of RIMS authority putting up barricade on the northern end of RIMS mortuary, and obstructing movement of locals in alleged violation of court orders, Meira Paibi activists of Lamphel Khunou dismantled the barricade, on Thursday.

The Meira Paibis contended that erecting barricade was violation of both the court's orders and the existing laws of the land.

Around 10 am, they removed the barricades positioned along the eastern and western sides of Lamphel Khunou road, situated north of RIMS mortuary.

Speaking to reporters, Lamphel Khunou Meira Paibi secretary Karam Chaoba Devi recounted that a court ruling on September 5, 2014, specified that the RIMS authority could not impede the free passage of the public along Lamphel Khunou Road for domestic and religious activities.

Later during the COVID pandemic, when A Shanta was the director of RIMS, the eastern gate of the Lamphel Khunou road was shut with movement of residents of Lamphel Khunou diverted towards the mortuary road within the RIMS complex.

However, following the appointment of director G Sunil Kumar, disruptions to commuters along the mortuary road, which had become a bypass route for locals, was frequently caused by RIMS security personnel.

The residents of Lamphel Khunou hied a petition to the District and Sessions Judge of Imphal West Court, following which the court issued an order on February 16 directing the RIMS authority not to inconvenience commuters along the road.

However, despite the said order, RIMS authority persisted in harassing commuters by deploying security personnel and erecting barricades in the area.

Consequently, the meira paibi of Lamphel Khunou area took action by dismantling the barricades on Thursday, she added.

Meanwhile, Manipur Security Service, in a statement, informed that an incident occurred between RIMS security and the women of Lamphel Khunou on the north-eastern side of RIMS, also known as SIB gate.

The statement clarified that the RIMS security had not violated any court orders but strictly adhering to directive of the RIMS director.

Despite their presence in the area, they did not hindered passage of locals of Lamphel Khunou along the mentioned road, nor did they harassed the people there.

They were cognizant of the court's instruction allowing free passage for public activities along Lamphel Khunou Road, including domestic and religious activities.

During this crisis period, RIMS has taken measures to ensure safety of its students by posting signs permitting only residents of Lamphel Khunou to use the road, which has become a local bypass route.

However, residents of Lamphel Khunou frequently react to this by tearing down the posters and damaging the barricades.

In doing so, they are violating the court 's orders, the release contended.

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