KSO calls bandh to protest Govt inaction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2012: Claiming indifferent attitude of the Government of Manipur with regard to alleged encroachment on its office plot as well as slaying of two Kuki students at Nongbrang village in 2009, the Kuki Students' Organisation said it will observe a 48-hour bandh from June 22 midnight.

Speaking to newspersons at its present office located at Palace Compound today, KSO vice president Mangcha baite said that a 100x30 feet plot at near 2nd MR Gate (Kabow Leikai), where the KSO planned to construct its office, was acquired by the Government for construction of a 5 Star Hotel.

even though KSO repeatedly apprised Manipur Development Society's Director Y Ningthem to spare the said plot there had been no positive response from the head of the 5 Star Hotel implementing agency till date, lamented Mangcha.

Taking into account the proposed plan for hotel construction from the early part of this year, the MDS Director was initially urged for a meeting but to no avail which was followed by another reminder on May 5 in the form of an application, said the vice president.

As the latter intimation also could not evoke any positive response from Director Y Ningthem, a delegation of the student orgnisation called on the Chief Minister who reportedly assured that all possible measures would be taken up to find an amicable solution on the issue.

However, neither the CM nor the director made any official intimation till date, informed Mangcha who informed that the plot where KSO planned to construct its office was actually owned by one LS Thangjom of Old Lambulane.

The plot owner's son Ishak Thangjom then donated the plot for construction of the KSO office, he maintained while adding that the plot is registered in LS Thangjom's name under CS Dag No.692/693 bearing Patta No.610 (old) .

With regard to the slaying of two Kuki students at Nongbrang village on December 22, 2009, he identified the victims as Paosat Kipgen from Keithelmanbi, but was then staying at Kangpokpi and Paolenlal Chongloi from Bongbal Khullen.

Both Paosat and Paolenlal, who were then studying at Shillong were lynched by a mob on false charge of being extortionists, contended the KSO functionary who also pointed out that the killings were vehemently protested by KSO, ATSUM and ANSAM.

In connection with the incident, Chief Minister Okram ibobi had assured that Government jobs would be provided to next of kins of the victims in addition to construction/development of a memorial site for the two deceased students, Mangcha maintained.

inspite of the assurance made years back, there is no evidence of the Manipur Government translating the promise into reality, said the KSO leader while condemning such indifferent attitude of the State authorities.

Opining that the assurances were actually intended on diverting the issue at hand, Mangcha declared that to protest such callousness of the Government, KSO decided to go ahead with the 48-hour agitation.

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