Cops crackdown on Mapithel rallyists
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 03 2008: Atleast 17 protestors sustained injuries in police crackdown on Mapithel Dam affected villagers who were coming to serve an ultimatum to the officials of the IFC Dept stationed at the dam site today.

The police fired tear gas canisters, mock bombs and lathi-charged the rallyists.

The condition of one of the injured women, a Meira Paibi is stated to be critical.

Police dispersing the rallyists with tear gas shells and a profusely bleeding woman

Responding to the call of the Mapithel Dam Affected Ching-Tam Organisation (MDACTO), a large number of villagers from 18 villages claimed to be affected by the construction of the dam participated in the rally which began from Nongdam Tangkhul at around 11.45 am.

Carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans like 'Create downstream economic package', 'No review, no dam', 'Give ears to our demand', 'Mapithel area is part of democratic country', 'Joint review of upstream and downstream', 'Equal treatment of upstream and downstream', etc as well as the effigy of Chief Minister in hands, the protestors were marching towards the dam site when the police stopped them.

Undeterred by the police action, infuriated protestors tried to go ahead leading to a confrontation.

As the situation was getting out of control, police resorted to firing tear gas canisters, mock bombs and lathi-charge.

As many as 17 of the protestors, mostly women-folk, sustained injuries in the police action.

One of the women protestors identified as C Lungmila (60) w/o C Licha of Loupheng Village who was hit by a tear gas canister on her head has been admitted to JN Hospital, Porompat in a serious condition.

Talking to mediapersons after the crackdown, chairman of MDACTO Ramthar Shaiza decried the police action on the protestors who were taking out a rally peacefully to submit an ultimatum highlighting their grievances to the officials of the IFCD at the dam site.

He also warned of intensifying the agitation if the Govt fails to consider the demands of the dam affected villagers.