Chandel protests against swearing in of ADC Chairman in Imphal
DFO office torched, use of traditional shawl as table cloth decried
Source: The Sangai Express

Chandel, September 15 2015: The office building of the Divisional Forest Officer, Chandel was set on fire by some unknown miscreants in Chandel district headquarters today.

At around 9.30 in the morning, billowed from the building and the fire engulfed all the rooms of the office.

All properties of the department located inside the office were also reduced to ashes.

According to the care-taker of the office, smoke rose from the office building while she was busy washing some clothes at around 9.30 am.

She rushed to the office and raised an alarm after the office building was found on fire.

The unknown miscreants had also locked the gate of the office complex which was broken down by using a hammer, she added.

She said that fire tender vehicles rushed in to put off the fire and the vehicle could not return after going back for a water refill due to the flash bandh in the district head quarters imposed by the Committee on Protection of Tribal Rights, Chandel district.

DFO office torched

A reliable source said that the office building of the Divisional Forest Officer, Chandel was set on fire in connection with the ongoing agitation of Committee on Protection of Tribal Rights, Chandel district protesting against the State Government for issuing notification of re-conducting an election for ADC Chairman.

It may be mentioned that the Committee on Protection of Tribal Rights, Chandel district had strongly opposed the Government notification for re-conducting the election of ADC Chairman and continues its agitation since September 10 .

Meanwhile, a huge mob and volunteers of Committee on Protection of Tribal Rights, Chandel district came out on the streets and enforced a flash bandh in Chandel district headquarters to protest against the use of an Anal traditional shawl as a table cloth during the election of Chandel ADC Chairman yesterday at Imphal.

Several placards and banners inscribed with slogans which read as "We strongly protest the use of Anal customary shawl as a table cloth by the so called Congress ADC members", "DC and CEO, Lhukhosei Zou and the Congress party, DC have directly insulted, challenged and provoked us", "Immediate justice is demanded," "We demand transfer of DC and CEO", etc.

were also held by the protesters.

The bandh supporters blocked the Chandel district headquarters road by burning tyres and piling tree branches and timbers at several places.

Shops and business establishments in the district headquarters also downed shutters during the bandh.

The offices located in the Mini Secretariat of Chandel district were also locked by the volunteers of the Committee on Protection of Tribal Rights, Chandel district.

Speaking to media persons, Wng.

Kohring Victor, President, CoPoTR Chandel district who is also the President of Anal tribe said that despite the Committee agitating against the re conduct of election of ADC Chairman, a traditional shawl of the Anal was used as a table cloth during the said election yesterday.

It is a direct insult not only to the Anal tribe but also to the Tribal community, he charged.

Kohring Victor further said that the DC, CEO and presiding officer of the election and all the ADC members who took part in the election should appear before the Anal customary Court within 48 hrs and apologise.

The election held yesterday at Imphal was not acceptable to the people of the district he said and added that the people have declared it null and void.

On the other hand, the Social Organisations of Anal Tribe held an emergency meeting at Maha Area Chief's Association (MACA) Hall, Panchai Village in Chandel district headquarters today.

During the emergency meeting, the CSOs strongly condemned the use of an Anal traditional shawl as a table cloth during the election of Chandel ADC Chairman held yesterday at Imphal.

The meeting resolved that the Deputy Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Chandel, presiding officer of the election and all the ADC members should appear before the Anal customary Court within 48 hrs and should apologise for using the traditional shawl as a table cloth during the said election.

The meeting also resolved to intensify the agitation if the said culprits fail to turns up before the Court.