Villages join hands for harmony
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 16 2016 : Villagers residing at the adjoining areas of Khundrakpam and Saikul ACs have formed a body known as Khamenlok Kong-ban Uyumpok Gram Panchayat Development Committee for sustaining peaceful co-existence.

Speaking at a press conference cum meeting held at Ibudhou Nongda Lairen Pakhangba Community Hall, Nongshum, committee president L Joykumar said that the committee was formed under the joint initiative of Manipur Legislative Assembly Spea-ker and Khundrakpam AC MLA Th Lokeshwar, Uyum-pok Gram Panchayat Pradhan and Sagolmang Post of 17 Assam Rifles.

Sustaining peaceful co-existence among the people of hill and valley, extending support to each other, preventing untoward incidents due to misunderstandings, bringing peaceful solutions to untoward incidents and fighting disturbances to communal harmony unitedly are the major objectives of the newly formed committee, he said.

The committee has been constituted after conducting three rounds of meeting among the leaders of different villages in the presence of Uyumpok GP Pradhan, he said.

On March 19, he said, a suspected underground militant tried to abduct a youth from Nongshum, who is engaged in the construction of Nongshum-Sanasabi road under PMGSY, for not paying monetary demand served by him to the contractor concerned.

Peeved with this incident, a total bandh was clamped at Nongshum area for some days starting March 23, he said.

The bandh was suspended on the day the first round of meeting between the leaders of hill and valley villages was held.

Chiefs of 10 villages of the hill and many leaders from valley villages attended the meeting, he said.

Joykumar said that the committee would monitor the development works of the area.

He further said that the committee would solve any crisis or unwanted incident occurred at the area.

Saying that the committee has not been formed to challenge any individual or group, Joykumar said that it would put in effort to sustain peaceful co-existence.

He stated that the president of the committee has been elected from the valley and the secretary from the hill.

Joykumar also thanked 17 Assam Rifles Sagolmang Post for extending help and support in the formation of the committee.

He also stated that the committee would organize festivals and cultural exchange programmes from time to time.

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