Imphal, April 16 2009: A RALLY of the people from Bishnupur district residing in the surrounding of the Loktak lake originated from Palace Compound Imphal submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh today to suspend Operation Summer Storm to save Sangai and from displacing the people owing to the operation that has been started from April 11 .

The rally of around 100 people originated from Iboyaima Shanglen, Palace compound this afternoon and marched towards the Chief Minister Bungalow.

A team of Imphal east district police intercepted them near the gate of the CC Higher Secondary and blocked the rallyists from further proceeding.

After a long negotiation, police allowed seven representatives of the protestors coming from various villages like the Nongmaikhong, Ethai and Khordhak entered to the chief minister bungalow to submit the memorandum demanding immediate suspension of the operation.

When the police blocked them, the rallyists requested them to make way so that they could air the grievances and suffering owing the counter insurgency operation launched by the security forces.

They said by the ongoing military operation, villagers have been displaced and taking asylum to neighbouring villages leaving all works of the day.

Children could not go to school.

Owing to the operation, fishermen feel fear of losing their fishing equipments.

Police officer in turn charged the rallyists of giving shelter to the undergrounds stating that the operation has been launched to flush out them and forced the rallyists to back upto Pureiromba Khongnangmakhong.

However, the protestors remained concentrated there till late evening.

Later, seven representatives of the protestors proceeded with local MLA and submitted the memorandum to the chief minister.

In the memorandum, it was stated that the operations has greatly affected to the children and around 2500 villagers of Ethai, Tera Khunou, Arong Khunjao have been affected by the operation and are taking shelter at safer places.

Apart from this, as the operation covered the Keibul National Park, they feel fear of killing a good number of the rear Sangai deer.

But Chief Minister reportedly diverting the matter informed the representatives that the operation is launched by the Centre and state government can do nothing to stop.

But he assured that he would look into the matter for providing relief materials to the affected villagers.

For this he will instruct the concern DC.

After the meeting with the CM, the protestors said that if the authorities do not taken up steps to stop the ongoing operation, affected people will come up to Imphal and launch several agitations till the Operation Summer Storm is stopped.

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