Asian Highway land affected villagers stage sit-in
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, June 19 2021: Under the aegis of Asian Highway Land Affected Villages Chairmen/Chief's Association (Gamgiphai to Taphou Kuki), land-affected people staged sit-in demonstration in their respective places along the National Highway 2 on Saturday.

The land-affected people demanded the state government to honour the land survey conducted by DC/LA Kangpokpi and revoke and rectify all land acquisition orders and resolve the issue at the earliest.

The protestors held placards that read "Don't play with our rights", "Our land is our life", "No development at the cost of violation of landowner's rights", "Implement LARR Act in letter and spirit", "No compensation No Work", " We will fight for Justice till last", etc.

At Kalapahar, Milan Pradhan, one of the affected people, said that they are not against any development project but it should not be taken up at the cost of their land and without proper compensation and consent of the landowners.

At Keithelmanbi, Dehlam Lhouvum, who is also the chairman of Keithelmanbi Village Authority, said that the government must first revoke and rectify all land acquisition orders and honour the survey conducted by DC Kangpokpi.

He also demanded land compensation based on the land survey conducted by DC Kangpokpi, adding that only then they will allow work for the expansion and widening of the highway.

At Bongmol, Neneng Lunkim, another land affected victim, echoed similar demand saying that all they want is compensation based on the land the survey conducted by DC Kangpokpi.

Sit-in-protests were also held at Bimparao and Motbung area.

At Saparmeina, one Helen Kipgen said that they cannot accept that their lands are being declared as government property.

He then cautioned that they are staging a simple democratic sit-in but if the government fails to fulfil their demand at the earliest they will be compelled to resort to more intense forms of agitation.

At Charhajare, Dipesh Sharma said, "First compensate us fairly and justifiably and respect and honour the land survey of DC Kangpokpi", while at Gamgiphai, Hegou Haokip reasoned that they are protesting against the government's violation of the landowner's rights and warned of an intense agitation if the government fails to pay attention to their demand.

It may be mentioned that the Asian Highway Land Affected Villages Chairmen/ Chief's Association has been alleging undesirable situation over the proposed widening of National Highway 2 along the stretch of land between chainage No.277+400 and 294+100 (Gamgiphai to Kalapahar) by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Meanwhile, Thadou Students' Association (TSA) Sadar Hills has extended its support to the land affected victims and the Asian Highway Land Affected Villages Chairmen/Chief's Association.

TSA said that it had been silently observing the issue of highway expansion, widening, etc., and the association found the AHLAVCCA's movement genuine and legitimate.

TSA fully endorses all the previous objections put up by AHLAVCCA and its movement and agitation to honour the land survey conducted by DC/LA Kangpokpi as well as for fair and justified compensation to the rightful landowners, it added.

The student body urged the state government to fulfil the legitimate and genuine demand of AHLAVCCA at the earliest while condemning in the strongest term the government's declaration of the stretch of land between Gamgiphai and Kalapahar as government land in its Gazette notification.

It also cautioned that it will support any movement of AHLAVCCA to bring justice to all the affected victims, adding that the association will not remain a silent spectator when injustice is meted out to its people.

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