Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18, 2010:
A joint meeting of the representatives of Khangshim village and clubs/organisations of Kakching was held today at Kakching Bazar, conveyed a press release.
After discussing in detail the restive situation and the hardships being encountered by the people of both the hills and the valley due to prolonged blockade on NH 39 and NH 53, the joint meeting decided to appeal to the State Govt as well as Govt of India to address the plight of the people.
They also appealed to lift the blockade immediately.
The joint meet noted that the damage done to the Khangshim village sign board by some participants of May 10 peace rally was very unfortunate.
The joint meet took strong exception and condemned the false propaganda made by some organisations in media like 'Khangshim villagers fled their homesteads due to threats by Kakching people', 'Shops were vandalised during the rally', 'Kakching people blocked transportation of food items to hill people of Chandel district' etc.
Decrying the reported fabricated allegations made against the MLA of Kakching A/C, the joint meet asked all concerned to desist from such malicious activities.
The MLA did not utter a single word with communal tone during the peace rally and sit-in-protest of May 10, the joint meeting agreed.
A separate press release issued by the Khoibu Tribe Union conveyed gratitude to the Naga Core Committee Chandel, Kuki Students' Organisation Tengnoupal and other organisations for the concern and sympathy shown Khoibu people in the aftermath of the damage done to the village sign board by some participants of May 10 peace rally.
It also thanked those people present in the rally who disagreed to uproot the village sign board and such violent actions.
The Khoibu Tribe Union clarified that there was no report of Khangshim villagers fleeing and taking shelter at Tengnoupal because of the incident though some Khoibu people staying in rented houses at Khangshim village left for their respective villages for cultivation.
Accusing the Marings of attacking Khoibu villages and destroying their properties many times when Khoibu people joined the process for recognition of Khoibu tribe a few years back, it appealed to the Govt, political parties and all communities and organisations not to harass, subjugate and discriminate small communities.